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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/worcesterchurcheOOstev 


New  Old  South  C'liurch 


Worcester  Churches 


1719 


1889 


BY 

CHARLES  EMERY  STEVENS 


-TruAo?  xdi  kdpai(i)[jLa  rrjg  aXi^Osta^ 


WiovttnUv 

Lucius  Paulinus  Goddard 


M DCCC  XC 


t 5 tWS 


O’NBIl  LIBRARY 
BOSTON  college 


PREFACE. 


The  substance  of  this  volume  was  first  printed  as  a chapter  in  the  History  of 
Worcester  County  recently  issued ; and  this  will  sufficiently  account  for  the  cast  of 
the  opening  paragraph.  When  that  voluminous  work  came  out,  it  was  found  to 
contain  some  annoying  errors,  and  this  portion  did  not  escape.  Partly  to  correct 
those  errors,  partly  to  embrace  new  churches,  partly  to  record  changes  in  the 
old,  but  chiefly  to  preserve  the  results  of  much  labor  in  a more  satisfactory  form, 
this  volume  is  now  issued. 

The  long  note  touching  the  date  of  the  First  Church  is  new,  and  was  framed 
after  much  correspondence  and  exhaustive  research  thereto  relating.  Without 
predilection,  but  compelled  by  the  evidence,  I came  to  the  conclusion  which  it 
enforces ; and  I have  confidence  that  it  will  conduct  my  reader  also  to  the  same 
conclusion. 

The  broad  margin  of  the  page  invites  annotations.  Some  possessor  of  the 
book  by  filling  such  handy  spaces  with  contemporary  records  of  pertinent  events 
would  do  a service  to  posterity  at  little  cost.  The  historian  of  the  future  would 
greatly  prize  such  authentic  work. 

The  pictures  illustrate  some  of  the  earlier,  but  chiefly  the  more  recent  church 
architecture  of  the  city.  They  are  sun-portraits  absolutely  faithful  to  every  stone 
and  cranny  and  ornament  of  the  originals.  Some  of  them  exhibit  the  costliest, 
and  some  the  least  costly  edifices ; taken  together  they  fairly  represent  what  Ls 
visible  of  Worcester  Churches. 

The  Appendix  contains  the  two  Ancient  Covenants  which  the  First  and  Second 
Churches  respectively  set  up  in  the  last  century  as  the  monuments  of  their  Faith. 
I had  no  doubt  that  they  ought  to  have  a conspicuous  place  in  the  book. 

A partial  list  of  my  authorities  will  be  found  at  the  end  of  the  history. 

C.  E.  S. 


Worcb:ster,  Massachusetts : 
January,  1890. 


100  copies  only  of  which  this  is 


No.  y/ 

Clfi 


Worcester  Churches. 


HISTORY  of  any  New  England  town  without  an 


ecclesiastical  chapter  would  surely  be  like  the 
play  of  Hamlet  with  the  part  of  Hamlet  left  out.  For 
a city  of  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  with  nearly  sixty 
churches  and  seventeen  denominations  and  a history 
; covering  two  centuries,  such  a chapter  ought  of  right 
! to  occupy  a large  space.  But  this  the  plan  of  the 
present  work  altogether  forbids.  Only  a very  con- 
I densed  outline  of  what  might  well  fill  a volume  can 
here  be  given.  It  must  needs  be  a somewhat  bald 
narration.  Outline  sketches  admit  of  neither  shading 
nor  color.  Under  such  limitations  this  writing  must 
proceed. 

At  the  outset  two  methods  of  treatment  presented 
themselves.  One  was  the  chronological  method  ; the 
other  was  the  topical.  By  the  latter  method  all  that  is 
to  be  said  of  one  denomination  would  be  presented  by 
itself  ; the  topic  would  be  exhausted  before  another 
was  touched.  Beginning  with  the  Trinitarian  Congre- 
gationalists,  for  example,  we  should  treat  of  all  the 
churches  of  that  order  before  proceeding  with  the 
next.  And  although  the  other  method  may  have  its 


6 


WOJ^CESTER 


advantages,  and  indeed,  has  been  adopted  by  some 
writers,  this,  on  the  v/hole,  seemed  to  be  the  preferable 
method.  It  has  this  important  advantage,  that  the 
origin  and  growth  of  each  denomination  can  be  viewed 
consecutively  and  apart  from  others.  Accordingly, 
this  method  will  be  pursued  in  the  present  history. 
Without  further  preface,  I begin  with  the 

Trinitarian  Congregationalists. 

First  or  Old  South  Church. — The  first  perma- 
I nent  settlement  in  Worcester  began  on  the  21st  of 
October,  1713.  Nearly  fifty  years  before,  steps  had 
I been  taken  towards  this  end  and  temporary  settlements 
had  been  begun  ; but  before  foot  was  set  upon  the  soil 
a provision  was  made  “ that  a good  minister  of  God’s 
word  be  placed  there.”  This  provision  was  first 
realized  in  the  }^ear  1719,  when  the  Rev.  Andrew 
j Gardner  was  ordained  as  the  first  minister  of  the 
gospel  settled  in  Worcester.  Before  this,  however,  the 
people  had  been  wont  to  assemble  regularly  for  public 
worship  in  their  dwelling-houses,  and  notably  in  that 

I 

of  Gershom  Rice,  who  was  the  first  to  open  his  house 
I for  the  purpose.  Soon  the  dwelling-house  became  too 
strait,  and  in  1717  a small' meeting-house  of  logs  was 
built.  It  stood  at  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Green 
streets,  just  southeast  of  the  Common.  This  served 
its  purpose  until  1719,  when  a more  spacious  edifice 
was  erected  on  the  site  thenceforward  occupied  by  the 
Old  South  for  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  years. 
A church  was  now  constituted,  with  Daniel  Haywood 
and  Nathaniel  Moore  for  its  first  deacons.  The  pre- 
cise date  of  this  important  beginning  is  not  known,  but 
all  probabilities  point  to  the  year  1719.  This,  then. 


CHURCHES 


7 


seems  to  have  been  the  year  when  the  meeting-house 
was  built,  the  church  organized,  and  the  first  minister 
settled.  ^ 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Gardner  was  not  a happy  one. 
He  v/as  addicted  to  deer-hunting  and  practical  jokes, 
and,  naturally,  was  accused  of  remissness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  His  people  on  their  part  neglected 
to  pay  his  small  stipend  of  perhaps  ^40,  and  also  the 
“ gratuity  ” of  ;^6o,  which  they  had  voted  to  give  him. 
Dissatisfaction  increased ; some  left  his  preaching. 

1 In  the  year  1889  a stone  tablet  was  erected  in  the  porch  of  the 
new  Old  South  bearing  an  inscription  to  the  effect  that  the  First 
Church  was  organized  in  “1716.”  The  printed  manual  of  the 
church  for  the  year  1886  sets  forth  that  the  organization  was  in 
“1715.”  A venerable  deacon  of  the  church  who  had  long  been 
its  clerk  expressed  to  me  his  conviction  that  it  was  in  1717.  So 
marked  a discrepancy  within  the  church  itself  justifies  an  attempt 
to  clear  up  the  uncertainty. 

The  church  itself  has  no  official  contemporaneous  or  other 
record  of  its  organization.  There  is  no  evidence  that  there  ever 
was  any.  If  there  ever  was,  it  was  probably  made  by  the  first 
minister,  according  to  usage,  and  carried  away  by  him  when  he 
was  shortly  dismissed  after  a bitter  controversy.  Nor  have  such 
churches  older  than  itself,  as  those  of  Lancaster,  Marlborough, 
Framingham  and  the  Old  South  at  Boston  any  record  — churches 
which  might  have  been  called  in  council  to  assist  and  so  have 
record  of  their  “messengers”  to  the  Worcester  church.  Evidence 
of  another  sort  and  from  other  sources  must  be  relied  on.  Of 
this  secondary  kind  much  that  is  not  only  weighty  but  satisfactory 
is  accessible.  None  of  it,  however,  favors  the  above  three  dates. 
Careful  research  fails  to  disclose  the  least  evidence  for  either. 
On  the  other  hand,  all  the  evidence  points  to  the  year  1719. 

I.  In  the  year  1793  known  History  of  the  County  of 

Worcester,  by  the  Rev.  Peter  Whitney  of  Northborough,  was 
published  by  Isaiah  Thomas.  Writing  of  Worcester  this  author 
says  (p.  30)  : “In  1719  the  first  meeting-house  was  erected  and 
here  [in  this  meeting-house]  a church  was  gathered  and  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Gardner,  the  first  minister,  was  ordained  in  the  autumn 
of  the  same  year  1719,  but  the  montja  and  day  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained.” To  assist  in  weighing  the  value  of  this  testimony  these 
things  are  to  be  noted:  (i)  The  author  was  a clergyman  having 


8 


WORCESTER 


The  General  Court  having  been  appealed  to  in  vain,  an 
ecclesiastical  council  was  at  length  convened,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1721,  to  take  the  matter  in  hand.  After  long 
delay  by  the  council,  on  the  31st  of  October,  1722,  Mr. 
Gardner  was  dismissed  from  his  charge.  It  is  said  his 
errors  were  more  of  the  head  than  of  the  heart.  He 
was  generous,  sometimes  without  regard  to  consequen- 
ces. This  instance  has  been  preserved : “ A poor 
parishioner  having  solicited  aid  in  circumstances  of 
distress,  Mr.  Gardner  gave  away  his  only  pair  of  shoes 
for  his  relief ; and,  as  this  was  done  on  Saturday, 


a character  to  maintain.  (2)  He  was  writing  about  a church  but 
a few  miles  away.  (3)  He  claimed  to  have  used  the  greatest 
care,  especially  about  dates.  In  his  preface  he  says : “ The  great- 
est care  and  pains  have  been  taken  to  ascertain  exact  dates  when 
it  was  possible.  Plence  towns  and  churches  [and  so  the  Worcester 
church]  may  know  their  respective  ages  if  at  any  time  their 
record  should  be  unhappily  destroyed.  The  dates  are  all  inserted 
according  to  their  originals.”  (4)  In  conformity  with  this  claim 
he  is  scrupulously  careful  about  the  date  of  the  Worcester 
church.  He  gives  the  year  and  season  of  the  year,  but  “ the 
month  and  day,”  he  says,  “cannot  be  ascertained.”  The  unavoid- 
able inference  is,  that  as  he  does  not  give  the  month  and  day 
because  he  could  not  ascertain  them,  so  he  does  give  the  year  and 
season  because  he  had  ascertained  them.  (5)  As  the  manuscript 
of  the  History  was  sold  to  Thomas  and  by  him  printed,  this 
statement  must  needs  have  passed  under  his  eye  ; and  thus  it 
must  be  taken  as  having  the  sanction  also  of  that  expert  antiqua- 
rian and  adept  in  Worcester  history.  (6)  A copy  of  the  History 
with  numerous  additions  and  corrections  in  the  handwriting  of 
Whitney  is  preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  Antiquarian  Society 
at  Worcester.  But  this  statement  about  the  Worcester  church 
is  left  unchanged,  and  so  must  now  be  taken  as  having  had  the 
author’s  careful  and  final  revision.  (7)  Whitney  was  for  many 
years  a contemporary  of  Nathaniel  Moore,  son  of  one  of  the  first 
two  deacons  who  helped  to  organize  the  church.  This  son  came 
to  Worcester  with  his  father  in  1715,  was  his  contemporary  for 
j forty-six  years,  was  living  in  1793  when  the  History  was  published, 

I and  did  not  die  till  eighteen  years  after.  Here  was  a most  com- 
I petent  witness  whose  life  covered  the  whole  period  from  the 


CHURCHES 


9 


appeared  the  next  day  in  his  stockings  at  the  desk  to 
perform  the  morning  service,  and  in  the  evening  officia- 
ted in  borrowed  slippers  a world  too  wide  for  his 
slender  members.”  Mr.  Gardner  was  a native  of 
Brookline  and  a graduate  of  Harvard  in  the  class  of 
1712.  It  was  thought  worthy  of  mention  that,  in  con- 
formity with  the  custom  of  the  time,  his  name  was 
placed  last  in  the  roll  of  his  class,  as  indicating  the 
relative  social  position  of  his  parents.  For  the  same 
reason  Abraham  Lincoln’s  name  would  have  stood  at 


Ma7'ginalia 


organization  of  the  church  to  the  publication  of  the  History. 
From  him  Whitney  could  have  known  the  certainty  of  the  things 
whereof  he  wrote,  and  if  he  had  written  what  needed  correction, 
Moore  was  alive  to  correct  him. 

Leaving  Whitney  we  turn  to  the  Rev.  Aaron  Bancroft,  D.  D. 
In  January  1811,  Dr.  Bancroft  preached  a sermon  which  he  after- 
wards printed  with  an  appendix  entitled,  “ Facts  relating  to  the 
town  of  Worcester.”  One  of  the  “facts”  is  set  forth  in  these 
words:  “The  first  meeting-house  was  erected  in  1719;  and  in  the 
autumn  of  this  year  a Church  was  formed  and  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Gardner  was  ordained  the  first  Minister  of  the  town.”  Dr.  Ban- 
croft had  been  a citizen  of  Worcester  for  more  than  a quarter  of 
a century  when  he  wrote  this.  For  the  same  length  of  time  he 
had  also  been  a contemporary  of  the  venerable  Mr.  Moore,  whose 
death  indeed  occurred  in  the  same  year  1811,  but  not  until  some 
six  months  after  the  preaching  of  the  sermon.  It  was  the  proper 
business  of  Dr.  Bancroft  as  an  ecclesiastic  to  know  the  truth 
about  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  his  own  town,  and  here  was  a 
living  witness  from  whom  he  might  certainly  have  learned  the 
truth.  And,  indeed,  there  is  the  best  reason  for  believing  that  the 
patriarch  was  consulted  by  him  and  gave  him  the  “facts,”  for  he 
says,  “ N.  Moore  is  yet  living,  aged  95.” 

II.  The  “ Proprietors’  Records  ” corroborate  the  position  that 
1719  is  the  true  date.  One  of  the  first  two  deacons  of  the  church 
was  Daniel  Haywood.  His  name  appears  in  the  Records  six  times 
prior  to  1720  — once  in  1714,  twice  in  1716,  once  in  1718  and  twice 
in  1719:  the  last  time  in  1719  was  under  date  of  May  18.  In  no 
one  of  these  six  instances  is  the  title  “ Deacon  ” prefixed  to  his 
name.  In  February  1720  his  name  appears  for  the  first  time  as 
“ Deacon  Daniel  Haywood  ; ” and  twice  afterwards  in  that  year 
he  is  styled  “ Deacon.”  Now,  bearing  in  mind  the  statements  of 


10 


WOI^CESTEI^ 


the  foot  of  his  class  had  he  been  college  bred.  The 
subsequent  history  of  Mr.  Gardner  did  not  improve  his 
reputation.  Installed  as  the  first  minister  of  Lunen- 
burg in  1728,  and  dismissed  in  1731  “because  he  was 
unworthy,”  he  retired  to  a town  in  the  Connecticut 
Valley  and  there  died  at  an  advanced  age.  After  a 
period  of  preaching  without  settlement  by  the  Rev. 
Shear] ashub  Bourne,  the  Rev.  .Thomas  White  and 
others,  on  the  tenth  of  February  1725  a call  was  given 
to  the  Rev.  Isaac  Burr,  and  on  the  13th  of  October 
following  he  was  ordained  as  the  second  minister.  A 
long  and  quiet  ministry  followed.  His  relations  with 
the  people  were  cordial,  and  the  latter  were  forward 
and  generous  in  his  support.  When  the  paper  money 
of  the  period  became  depreciated  they  took  care  that 
his  salary  should  not  suffer.  During  his  ministry  a 
memorable  event  was  the  arrival  in  Worcester,  October 
14,  1740,  of  George  Whiteheld  accompanied  by  Gov. 
Belcher.  On  the  next  day  the  famous  evangelist 


Whitney  and  Bancroft  that  the  church  was  formed  in  the  autumn 
of  1719,  we  see  the  corroborative  force  of  these  Records.  In  May 
1719,  he  was  not  styled  “Deacon”  because,  the  church  not  having 
then  been  organized,  he  had  not  then  been  made  its  deacon.  In 
February  1720,  he  was  styled  “ Deacon  ” because  by  the  organi- 
zation of  the  church  in  the  previous  autumn  he  had  been  made 
such.  In  those  days  the  usage  of  giving  a person  his  title  in 
formal  records,  whether  civil,  military  or  ecclesiastical,  was  scru- 
pulously observed.  If  Haywood  had  been  entitled  to  be  styled 
Deacon  prior  to  the  autumn  of  1719,  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  he  would  have  been.  The  case  is  strengthened  by 
the  fact  that  the  Records  treat  the  other  deacon,  Nathaniel  Moore, 
in  the  same  way.  He  is  never  styled  deacon  before  1719;  after 
that  year  he  is  so  styled. 

III.  The  old  time  custom  of  organizing  the  church  and  ordain- 
ing its  first  minister  at  the  same  time  points  to  1719  as  the  true 
date.  Says  the  Rev.  Joseph  G.  Clark,  D.  D.,  in  his  Historical 
Sketch  of  Congregational  Churches  in  Massachusetts  : “ Thirty- 


CHURCHES 


1 1 

“ preached  on  the  Common  to  some  thousands,”  as 
he  wrote  in  his  diary.  Nothing  appears  to  show  that 
this  visit  was  otherwise  than  welcome  to  Mr.  Burr. 
And  yet,  the  forces  then  set  in  motion  had  their 
ultimate  issue  in  his  dismission.  It  seems  the  R,ev. 
David  Hall,  of  Sutton,  “ a follower  of  Whitefield,” 
found  Mr.  Burr  too  backward  in  the  new  Whitefield 
movement.  Though  he  preached  repeatedly  “ in 
private  houses  ” in  Worcester  with  Mr.  Burr’s  consent, 
yet  he  was  moved  to  write  down  in  his  diary  that  the 
latter  “ seemed  not  well  pleased.”  At  length  Mr.  Burr 
refused  his  consent  to  further  preaching  by  his  Sutton 
brother,  vdiereupon  the  latter  was  led  to  record  his 
fear  that  the  Worcester  minister  was  “ too  much  a 
stranger  to  the  power  of  godliness.”  In  truth,  a 
Whitefield  party  had  been  formed  in  Worcester,  and 
Mr.  Burr  was  found  not  to  be  of  the  number. 
Alienation  naturally  arose,  and  the  growing  trouble 
impaired  his  health.  So,  in  about  four  years  after 


eight  churches  were  gathered  in  Massachusetts  from  1710  to  1720, 
and  so  common  had  the  custom  grown  of  blending  into  one 
transaction  the  organization  of  a church  and  the  settlement  of  a 
pastor  over  it,  that  when  we  have  no  record  of  the  former  we 
may  safely  assume  for  its  date  the  authentic  record  of  the  latter.” 
This  was  true  of  the  churches  in  Lancaster,  Marlborough  and 
Framingham,  for  example.  In  each  the  minister  was  employed 
for  a length  of  time  before  settlement ; then  the  settlement  took 
place  and  at  the  same  time  the  church  was  “ gathered.”  And 
such  was  the  case  with  the  Worcester  church  says  Dr.  Clark  ; and 
he  too  fixes  the  year  as  1719.  On  all  hands  it  is  agreed  that  the 
first  minister,  Andrew  Gardner,  was  settled  in  that  year.  This 
ascertained  date  of  the  settlement,  coupled  with  the  custom  set 
forth  by  Dr.  Clark,  ascertains  the  date  for  the  church  also. 

In  view  of  the  foregoing  evidence,  it  is  safe  to  rest  in  the  con- 
clusion, as  one  never  likely  to  be  disturbed,  that  the  organization 
of  the  First  Church  of  Worcester  was  effected  in  the  autumn  of 
the  year  1719. 


12 


WORCESTER 


Whitefield’s  advent,  a mutual  council  was  convened, 
and  under  its  advice  Mr.  Burr  was  dismissed  in  March 

1745.  Lincoln  (“  History  of  Worcester,”  p.  146)  says 
that  he  was  the  son  of  the  Hon.  Peter  Burr,  the  father 
of  President  Burr,  of  Princeton  College,  and  conse- 
quently grandfather  of  Aaron  Burr,  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States.  But  this  is  an  error.  It  appears 
from  evidence  in  the  probate  office  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
that  he  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Burr,  of  that  city,  and 
therefore  not  of  the  Aaron  Burr  lineage.  He  was  born 
in  1698,  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1717.  His  death 
occurred  at  Windsor,  about  1751.  No  portraiture  of 
his  person  or  mind  survives ; no  characteristic  anec- 
dote is  of  record,  and  nothing  testifies  of  his  ministry 
save  its  continuance  for  a fifth  of  a century  in  a 
generally  peaceful  way.  The  town  next  made  choice 
of  Nathaniel  Gardner,  a graduate  of  Harvard  in  1739  ; 
he,  however,  declined  the  call.  Nearly  two  years 
elapsed  before  the  settlement  of  the  next  minister.  In 
this  interval  a covenant^  was  adopted  September  22, 

1746,  and  subscribed  by  fifty  members  of  the  church. 
Doubtless  there  was  a covenant  of  some  sort  when  the 
church  was  first  organized,  but  what  it  was,  and  how 
it  compared  with  this  new  one,  we  have  no  means  of 
knowing.  If  it  was  a “ half-way  covenant  ” after  the 
fashion  of  that  day,  it  must  have  differed  materially 
from  this  one  of  1746. 

After  Mr.  Gardner  many  candidates  were  heard  ; 
but  at  last  the  choice  lay  between  the  Rev.  Thaddeus 
Maccarty  of  Boston,  and  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Mayhew 
of  Martha’s  Vineyard.  Each  was  to  preach  four 


1 See  Appendix  A. 


CHURCHES 


Sabbaths  in  succession,  and  on  the  Sabbath  before  the 
day  of  election  both  were  to  preach.  After  this 
competitive  trial  the  choice  by  a very  large  majority 
fell  on  Mr.  Maccarty,  and  Worcester  missed  the 
chance  of  having  the  famous  divine  of  the  Revolution 
among  the  number  of  its  ministers.  Mr.  Maccarty 
was  installed  on  the  loth  of  June  1747.  The  sermon 
on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  himself,  for  which 
unusual  step  he  offered  ingenious  reasons  in  the 
introduction.  Besides  the  pecuniary  provision  for  his 
support,  a house  with  about  two  acres  of  land  on  the 
Common  southeast  from  the  meeting-house  was  pur- 
chased for  a parsonage.  In  1765  this  property  was 
conveyed  in  fee  to  Mr.  Maccarty  by  the  town.  Nearly 
fifty  years  after,  in  a suit  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Austin, 
D.  D.,  in  behalf  of  the  parish,  the  property  was 
recovered  back  from  the  tenant  claiming  under  a 
conveyance  by  the  executors  of  the  deceased  minister. 
The  estate,  however,  was  afterwards  relinquished  by 
the  parish.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Maccarty  continued 
for  thirty-seven  years.  In  the  course  of  it  occurred 
the  Revolutionary  War,  bringing  severe  trials  ; and 
at  the  close  protracted  sickness  kept  him  out  of 
the  pulpit.  He  lived  greatly  respected  and  died 
deeply  lamented  on  the  20th  of  July  1784,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years.  His  ministry  was  the  longest  of 
all  which  the  First  Church  enjoyed  during  the  first  one 
hundred  and  seventy  years.  Mr.  Maccarty  was  tall, 
slender  and  thin,  with  a black,  penetrating  eye,  which 
added  to  his  effectiveness  in  speaking.^  “ As  a 


Marginalia 


1 A faint  likeness  of  him  survives  on  a poorly-painted  canvas  in 
the  possession  of  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Dunn,  one  of  his  lineal  descend- 
ents.  His  remains  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  then  on  the  I 

3 


14 


WORCESTER 


preacher  he  was  solemn,  loud,  searching  and  rousing,” 
said  a contemporary  clerical  brother.  President  John 
Adams,  in  his  early  years  a resident  of  Worcester, 
wrote  to  Dr.  Bancroft  that  “ Mr.  Maccarty,  though  a 
Calvinist,  was  no  bigot.”  In  the  course  of  his  minis- 
try, Mr.  Maccarty  published  eight  occasional  sermons  ; 
several  others  may  be  found  in  Doctor  Smalley’s 
“ Worcester  Pulpit.”  From  these  posterity  may  judge 
something  of  his  doctrine,  which  was  sound,  and 
something  of  his  style,  which  was  not  classical.  Dur- 
ing his  sickness  and  after  his  decease  a young  man 
appeared  in  his  pulpit  whose  preaching  was  destined 
to  be  the  occasion,  if  not  the  cause,  of  a lasting 
division  in  the  First  Parish.  Of  this  an  account  will 
be  given  under  another  head.  During  the  controversy 
which  arose,  no  minister  was  called;  then,  in  1786, 
the  Rev.  Daniel  Story  was  called,  accepted  the  call  and 
went  on  preaching,  without  being  ordained,  for  about 
two  years,  when  the  call  was  re-called.  It  had  been 
discovered,  that  he,  too,  entertained  Arminian  senti- 
ments. Having  thus  received  his  conge  in  Worcester, 
Mr.  Story  went  into  Ohio  as  chaplain  of  the  company 
which  founded  Marietta,  the  centennial  of  which  was 
celebrated  in  1888,  a distinguished  citizen  of  Worcester 
(Senator  Hoar)  having  a leading  part  therein.  Mr. 

Common,  at  a spot  just  south  of  and  very  near  the  Soldiers’ 
Monument.  In  1848  all  the  gravestones  in  the  cemetery  were 
laid  flat,  each  over  its  respective  grave,  and  buried  beneath  the 
turf,  and  Mr.  Maccarty’s  among  the  rest.  A description  of  the 
emblems  on  his  headstone,  together  with  its  inscriptions,  is  given 
in  Barton’s  “Epitaphs.”  The  inscriptions  were  copied  upon  a 
mural  tablet  erected  in  the  Old  South  by  Dwight  Foster  (brother 
of  Mrs.  Dunn),  late  a justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts. The  tablet  now  has  an  appropriate  place  upon  the  wall  of 
the  New  Old  South. 


CHURCHES 


15 


Story  was  an  uncle  of  Joseph  Story,  the  eminent 
justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Boston  on  the  29th  of  July  1756,  was  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  the  class  of  1780  and  died 
at  Marietta  in  1804. 

The  settlement  of  the  next  minister,  Dr.  Austin,  in 
the  last  decade  of  the  century,  wa  - the  beginning  of  a 
new  order  of  things.  Before  proceeding  with  its 
history  let  us  look  at  the  way  of  public  worship  in  the 
First  Church  during  the  period  then  closing.  As 
elsewhere,  the  principal  parts  of  the  service  were 
praying  and  preaching ; singing  and  reading  the 
Scripture  lesson  were  subordinate ; and,  indeed,  this 
last  did  not  become  a part  of  the  service  until  near  the 
middle  of  the  century.  Under  date  of  September  3, 
1749,  the  church  record  recites  that  the  “laudable 
custom  was  very  unanimously  come  into  by  the  church 
at  one  of  their  meetings  sometime  before.”  In  this 
matter  the  Worcester  church  was  not  behind  others, 
since  the  custom  “ was  not  introduced  into  New 
England  ” until  that  period.  Singing  had  been  a part 
of  the  service  from  the  beginning.  At  first  it  was 
congregational,  primitive  and  rude.  The  minister  read 
the  first  line  of  a psalm  and  the  congregation  sang  it. 
Then  the  eldest  deacon  “ lined  ” the  rest,  and  “ singing 
and  reading  went  on  alternately.”  There  was  neither 
chorister  nor  choir  nor  set  tune,  but  each  one  sang  to 
please  himself.  This  was  the  “usual  way,”  so  called. 
In  1726  an  attempt  was  made  to  substitute  the  “ruleable 
way.”  A vote  of  the  town  was  passed  to  that  effect, 
but  the  deacons  resisted,  and  the  “ usual  way  ” still 
prevailed.  The  un melodious  custom  was  too  strongly 
entrenched.  Forty-three  years  went  by  and  a genera- 


i6 


WORCESTER 


tion  had  died  off  before  another  attempt  to  change  it 
was  made.  Then,  in  May  1769,  came  a modest  propo- 
sition to  invite  “ a qualified  individual  ” to  lead.  A 
bolder  stroke  followed  in  March  1770,  when  three  men 
were  designated  by  name  “ to  sit  in  the  elders’  seat 
and  lead,”  and  by  a unaminous  vote  a fourth  was 
chosen  to  “ assist.”  Here  was  our  modern  quartette, 
so  far  as  the  old-time  sense  of  propriety  would  allow. 
The  next  step  was  taken  in  1773  by  providing  seats 
exclusively  for  the  singers.  Six  years  after,  on  the  5th 
of  August  1779,  the  town  struck  the  final  blow  by 
adopting  these  votes  : That  the  singers  sit  in  the  front 
seats  of  the  front  gallery ; that  they  be  requested  to 
take  said  seats  and  carry  on  the  singing ; and  that  the 
psalm  be  not  “lined.”  Nevertheless,  on  the  next 
Sabbath  the  venerable  eldest  deacon  rose  and  be°:an  to 
“line”  the  psalm.  The  singers,  from  their  new 
“coign  of  vantage,”  began  to  sing;  the  deacon  raised 
his  voice,  the  singers  raised  theirs  ; it  was  an  unequal 
strife,  and  the  deacon  “ retired  from  the  meeting-house 
in  tears.”  This  was  the  end  of  the  “ usual  way  ” of 
singing  in  Worcester.  From  that  time  onward  the 
ruleable  way  prevailed  without  opposition. 

The  first  book  in  use  was  the  “ Bay  Psalm  Book,”  ^ 
as  improved  by  President  Dunster,  of  Harvard  College. 

1 This  most  famous  and  rarest  of  books  was  the  first  one  ever 
printed  in  America.  Its  true,  whole  and  only  title  was,  “ The 
whole  booke  of  psalmes  faithfully  translated  into  English  Metre, 
Whereunto  is  prefixed  a discourse  declaring  not  only  the  lawful- 
nes,  but  also  the  necessity  of  the  heavenly  Ordinances  of  singing 
Scripture  Psalms  in  the  Churches  of  God.  Imprinted  1640.”  In 
1636  there  were,  says  Dr.  Thomas  Prince,  “ near  thirty  ministers  ” 
in  New  England  who  had  been  educated  in  the  English  universi- 
ties. These  divines  selected  out  of  their  number  “ the  Rev.  Mr. 
Richard  Mather,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Weld  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 


CHURCHES 


17 


This  held  the  ground  until  1761,  and  was  then  dis- 
placed by  the  version  of  Tate  and  Brady,  “ with  an 
Appendix  of  Scriptural  Plymns  by  Dr.  Watts.”  The 
exact  date  when  this  book  came  into  use  was  on  the 
29th  of  November  in  that  year.  It  continued  in  use 
until  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Austin,  and  then,  on  the 
20th  of  January  1790,  gave  way  to  “Watts’  Psalms 
and  Hymns  and  Spiritual  Songs.”  The  version  of 
Sternhold  and  Hopkins  was  never  used  in  the  church 
in  this  town,”  says  Lincoln.’  This  version  was  the  one 
in  use  under  royal  authority  by  the  Church  of  England, 
and  was  bound  up  with  its  “ Book  of  Common  Prayer.” 
Perhaps  it  was  because  of  this  that  the  New  England 
churches  chose  to  have  a “ Psalm  Book”  of  their  own  — 
a book  free  from  all  complicity  with  an  established 
church. 

To  illustrate  the  several  versions  and  furnish  a means 
of  comparison  the  first  verse  of  the  first  psalm  from 
each  is  subjoined. 

From  the  Bay  Psalm-Book  of  1640. 

O Blessed  man  that  in  th’  advice 
of  wicked  doth  not  walk  : 
nor  stand  in  sinners  way,  nor  sit 
in  chayre  of  scornfull  folk. 

John  Eliot,”  to  prepare  a new  version  of  the  Psalms  for  the  use 
of  the  New  England  churches.  The  printing  of  the  work  was 
begun  in  1639  and  completed  in  1640.  This  was  the  “ Bay  Psalm 
Book.”  A single  copy,  bearing  the  imprint  of  the  last-named 
year,  is  treasured  in  the  iron  safe  of  the  American  Antiquarian 
Society,  in  Worcester.  It  is  sometimes  said  of  a very  rare  book 
that  it  is  worth  its  weight  in  gold.  In  1876  a copy  of  this  book 
belonging  to  the  estate  of  the  late  Dr.  Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  was 
sold  by  auction  in  Boston  for  about  one  thousand  and  fifty 
dollars.  The  Worcester  copy  weighs  nine  ounces.  The  price 
paid  for  the  Boston  copy,  therefore,  was  more  than  six  times  its 
weight  in  gold. 

1 MS.  Notes  in  Lib.  of  Antiq.  Soc. 


i8 


WORCESTER 


From  Dunster’s  Improved  Bay  Psalm-Book  of  1650. 

O Blessed  man  that  walks  not  in 
th’  advice  of  wicked  men, 

Nor  standeth  in  the  sinners  way 
nor  scorners  seat  sits  in. 

, From  Tate  and  Brady,  Original  Edition,  Anno  1700. 

Happy  the  Man  whom  ill  Advice 
From  Virtue  ne’er  withdrew. 

Who  ne’er  with  Sinners  stood  nor  sat 
Amongst  the  scoffing  Crew. 

From  Tate  and  Brady,  "with  Appendix  by  Watts,  Anno  1754. 

How  blest  is  he  who  ne’er  consents 
by  ill  Advice  to  walk 
Nor  stands  in  Sinners  Ways  ; nor  sits 
where  Men  profanely  talk  ! 

• From  Sternhold  and  Hopkins,  London,  1648. 

The  man  is  blest  that  hath  not  bent 
to  wicked  read  his  eare : 

Nor  led  his  life  as  sinners  do, 
nor  sate  in  scorners  chaire. 

After  six  years  of  waiting  the  First  Parish  at  length 
secured  the  most  distinguished  among  all  its  ministers. 
On  the  29th  of  September  1790,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Austin,  D.  D.,  of  New  Haven,  was  duly  installed  in 
the  vacant  pulpit.  His  first  considerable  step  was  to 
clear  up  and  reinvigorate  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the 
church.  A new  creed  and  covenant  were  adopted, 
whereby  its  orthodoxy  was  conformed  to  the  strictest 
type.  All  the  subsequent  activities  of  Dr.  Austin  had 
this  type  for  their  basis.  He  devoted  himself  to  the 
investigation  of  theological  questions.  He  prepared 
and  published  the  first  complete  edition  of  the  works 
of  the  elder  Jonathan  Edwards.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  General  Association  of  Massachusetts 
and  also  of  the  Massachusetts  Home  Missionary 


CHURCHES 


^9 


Society.  He  was  often  called  to  sit  in  councils  on 
difficult  cases.  He  was  a man  of  strong  convictions 
and  plain  speech.  On  public  affairs  he  preached  with 
great  freedom.  His  fast-day  sermons  were  notable. 
Several  were  published.  The  one  preached  on  the  23d 
of  July  1812,  during  the  war,  caused  much  agitation. 
He  therefore  published  it,  with  this  upon  its  title-page  ; 
“ Published  from  the  press  by  the  desire  of  some  who 
heard  it  and  liked  it ; by  the  desire  of  some  who 
heard  it  and  did  not  like  it ; and  by  the  desire  of 
others  who  did  not  hear  it,  but  imagine  they  should 
not  have  liked  it  if  they  had.” 

At  the  end  of  twenty-five  years  he  became  president 
of  the  University  of  Vermont,  but,  because  of  the  suit 
already  mentioned,  remained  nominal  minister  of  the 
First  Parish  till  1818.  Resigning  the  college  presi- 
dency in  1821,  he  became  pastor  of  a small  church  in 
Newport,  R.  I.,  once  the  charge  of  the  famous  divine, 
Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins.  This,  too,  he  resigned  in  1825 
and  then  returned  to  Worcester,  preaching  occasionally 
in  Millbury.  By  and  by,  the  death  of  an  adopted  son, 
physical  disease  and  pecuniary  losses  brought  on  mental 
disturbance.  Like  the  poet  Cowper,  he  became  a 
religious  monomaniac.  The  darkness  of  despair  settled 
down  upon  him.  For  some  four  years  he  remained  in 
this  state  of  gloom.  Near  the  end,  light  at  intervals 
broke  through  the  cloud.  He  died  on  the  4th  of 
December  1830,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  a man  of  commanding  stature,  of  dignified 
carriage,  austere  yet  affable  on  near  approach,  and 
“ with  a smile  like  a sunbeam  breaking  through  the 
clouds.”  As  a preacher  he  was  remarkable  for  power 
and  pathos,  and  of  eminent  gifts  in  devotional 


20 


WOJ^CESTEJ^ 


I exercises.  The  impress  of  his  character  was  deep  and 
abiding.  Of  his  publications,  Lincoln  (“  History  ”) 
gives  a list  of  thirty-three,  with  their  titles. 

The  successor  of  Dr.  Austin  was  the  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Goodrich.  He  was  ordained  as  colleague  pastor  on 
the  9th  of  October  1816,  and  became  sole  pastor  by 
the  formal  dismission  of  Dr.  Austin  in  i8i8.  His 
ministry  was  short  but  fruitful  of  a spiritual  harvest, 
about  eighty  new  confessors  being  added  to  the  church 
in  one  year.  But  it  was  a ministry  full  of  trouble  also. 
Beginning  as  a young  man  of  twenty-six  years,  he 
found  himself  confronted  at  the  outset  with  the 
opposition  of  a leading  person  both  in  the  parish  and 
in  the  town.  Though  this  person  was  not  himself  of 
the  church,  yet  some  of  his  family  were ; and  the  com- 
bined influence  of  all  caused  the  disaffection  to  spread. 
Attempts  at  reconciliation  were  made  and  failed.  It 
became  evident  that  either  the  minister  or  the  dis- 
affected must  leave.  The  former  was  too  strongly 
intrenched  to  be  ousted,  and  the  latter  perforce  accepted 
the  alternative.  For  a time  they  resorted  to  other 
communions  while  retaining  connection  with  their  own 
church.  Presently,  they  sought  release  from  this  bond. 
Some  asked  for  dismission  and  recommendation. 
Several  were  dismissed  but  not  recommended.  Councils 
were  resorted  to  and  counter  councils  were  held,  with 
the  usual  results  of  ex  parte  proceedings.  Each  party 
in  turn  was  sustained.  At  last  a council  constituted 
the  disaffected,  with  others,  into  a new  church,  the 
history  of  which,  under  the  name  of  the  Calvinist  or 
Central  Church,  will  be  given  in  its  proper  place.  A 
war  of  pamphlets  followed,  able  and  exhaustive  on 
both  sides ; and  to  them  the  reader  must  be  remitted 


CHURCHES 


21 


for  further  and  fuller  details  of  the  unhappy  contro- 
versy. This  church  quarrel  was  the  most  serious  that 
ever  afflicted  any  church  of  any  communion  in  the 
town.  Ill  health  compelled  Mr.  Goodrich  to  lay  down 
his  charge  on  the  14th  of  November  1820,  and  the 
same  cause  prevented  him  from  resuming  the  pastoral 
office.  For  the  rest  of  his  life  he  devoted  himself  to 
literary  pursuits.  He  became  a maker  of  books ; his 
school  histories  were  in  their  day  greatly  in  vogue,  and 
of  one  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  copies  were 
printed.  A list  of  his  principal  works  is  to  be  found 
in  the  “ Worcester  Pulpit.” 

The  sixth  pastor  of  the  Old  South  and  the  next  after 
Mr.  Goodrich  was  the  Rev.  Araetius  Bevil  Hull.  Born 
at  Woodbridge,  Conn.,  in  1788,  graduated  in  1807  at 
Yale,  where  he  was  a tutor  for  six  years,  he  was 
ordained  and  settled  at  Worcester  on  the  2 2d  of  May 
1821.  He  came  to  his  new  calling  with  a high  reputa- 
tion both  as  a scholar  and  as  a teacher.  Ill  health, 
however,  kept  him  down,  and  after  a protracted  sick- 
ness he  died  in  office  on  the  17th  of  May  1826.  His 
virtues  as  a man  and  a minister  were  celebrated  by  his 
contemporary  neighbor.  Dr.  Nelson,  in  a funeral  ser- 
mon. He  was  eminently  social,  simple,  refined, 
charming  in  conversation  and  “ a welcome  friend  to 
the  poor.”  A quarter  of  a century  after  his  death  men 
often  spoke  of  him  “ with  kindling  emotion.”  His 
church  attested  their  affection  by  erecting  to  his 
memory  a monument  inscribed  all  over  with  elaborate 
encomium.  In  1827  the  church  and  parish  united  in 
a call  to  the  Rev.  Rodney  A.  Miller.  The  call  was 
accepted  and  he  was  ordained  on  the  7th  of  June  in 

that  year.  For  nearly  seventeen  years  he  remained 

4 


Marginalia 


22 


WORCESTER 


pastor  of  the  church.  During  this  period  more  than 
four  hundred  were  added  to  its  communion.  At  length 
differences  arose  between  Mr.  Miller  and  members  of 
the  church  and  parish ; in  consequence,  a mutual 
council  was  called  and  the  result  of  its  advice  was  the 
dismission  of  Mr.  Miller.  For  many  years  after,  he 
continued  to  reside  in  Worcester,  but  in  the  end  he 
returned  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  his  native  place,  where  he 
died  at  an  advanced  age.  Mr.  Miller  was  the  first 
president  of  the  first  Temperance  Association  ever 
formed  in  Worcester.  For  some  years  he  was  one  of 
the  overseers  of  Harvard  University  and  had  a zeal  for 
the  rectification  of  its  theological  standards. 

A series  of  seven  pastorates  followed  that  of  Mr. 
Miller.  The  first  was  that  of  the  Rev.  George  Phillips 
Smith,  a graduate  of  Amherst  in  1835. 
installed  on  the  19th  of  March  1845,  and  died  at 
Salem,  while  in  office,  on  the  3d  of  September  1852. 
His  ministry  was  a happy  and  successful  one.  Follow- 
ing him  came  the  Rev.  Horace  James,  a graduate  of 
Yale  in  1840,  who  was  installed  on  the  3d  of  February 
1853.  Mr.  James  was  full  of  devotion  to  his  charge, 
but  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  devotion  to  his 
country  overbore  the  former  and  issued  in  his  appoint- 
ment as  chaplain  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of 
Massachusetts  Volunteers  and  his  consequent  dismis- 
sion from  his  pastoral  charge.  This  event  occurred 
on  the  8th  of  January  1863,  and  his  death  on  the  9th 
of  June  1875.  Rev.  Edward  Ashley  Walker,  who  had 
been  ordained  chaplain  of  the  First  Connecticut  Fleavy 
Artillery  in  June  1861,  was  installed  as  Mr.  James’ 
successor  on  the  2d  of  July  1863.  Like  some  of  his 
predecessors,  he  was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  retire 


CHURCHES 


23 


altogether  from  the  ministry.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  loth  of  April  1866.  During  his  ministry,  September 
‘22,  1863,  the  one  hundreth  anniversary  of  the  building 
of  the  Old  South  meeting-house  was  elaborately  com- 
memorated. At  the  meeting-house  the  Hon.  Ira  M. 
Barton  made  an  introductory  address,  and  Leonard 
Bacon,  D.  D.,  of  New  Haven,  gave  a historical  dis- 
course ; while  at  Mechanics  Hall,  in  the  after  part  of 
the  day,  much  reminiscent  discoursing  was  had.  The 
old  meeting-house,  a typical  specimen  of  New  England 
church  architecture  of  the  last  century,  with  its  grace- 
ful slender  spire  and  faithful  weathercock,  was  suffered 
to  remain  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a century  longer 
before  its  demolition  in  August  1887,  under  a municipal 
decree. 

After  Mr.  Walker’s  dismission  the  Rev.  Royal  B. 
Stratton  was  installed  on  the  2d  of  January  1867. 
Serious  disability,  more  or  less  impairing  his  usefulness, 
led  to  his  dismission  on  the  25th  of  April  1872.  His 
death  occurred  in  this  city  on  the  24th  of  January 
1875.  On  the  2ist  of  May  following  Rev.  William  M. 
Parry,  of  Nottingham,  England,  received  a unanimous 
call  to  the  pastorate.  He  practically  accepted  the  call 
and  performed  his  duties  as  acting  pastor  but  was 
never  installed.  On  November  3,  1873,  he  “ resigned  ; ” 
but  the  resignation,  taking  the  church  by  “ surprise,” 
was  not  accepted.  On  the  nth  of  December  it  was 
withdrawn,  but  on  the  4th  of  January  following  he 
preached  his  farewell  sermon.  His  preaching  had 
been  both  dramatic  and  eccentric  and  consequently 
had  drawn  crowded  houses.  Leaving  the  Old  South, 
he  drew  after  him  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  its 
communicants,  and  together  they  at  once  proceeded  to 


Marginalia 


24 


WORCESTER 


organize  a new  church  in  Mechanics  Hall  by  the  name 
of  the  Tabernacle  Church.  Without  loss  of  time  a 
congregational  council  was  convened  for  the  purpose 
of  recognizing  the  church  and  installing  Mr.  Parry  as 
its  pastor.  The  council  received  the  church  into 
fellowship  but  refused  to  install  Mr.  Parry.  The 
church  then  proceeded  to  violate  the  principle  of  the 
fellowship,  to  which  it  had  just  been  admitted,  by  an 
autocratic  installation.  The  services  on  the  occasion 
were  performed  by  lay  members  of  the  church ; and  in 
that  fashion  Mr.  Parry  became  the  first,  and  as  it 
proved,  the  only  pastor  of  the  Tabernacle  Church  in 
Worcester.  Church  and  pastor  both  came  to  a speedy 
end.  Mr.  Parry  suddenly  died  in  his  chair  while  mak- 
ing a call  upon  two  of  his  female  parishioners,  and  the 
church,  already  grown  disgusted  and  disintegrated  by 
his  gross  and  increasing  eccentricities,  vanished  into 
the  inane. 

To  return  to  the  Old  South:  The  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Mighill,  a graduate  of  Amherst  in  i860,  was  installed 
as  Mr.  Stratton’s  successor,  September  25,  1875.  The 
fate  of  so  many  of  his  predecessors  overtook  him  also, 
and  because  of  ill  health  he  was  dismissed  on  the  15th 
of  June  1877.  Then  followed  the  Rev.  Louis  Bevier 
Voorhees  a graduate  of  Princeton  in  1867.  After 
occupying  the  pulpit  for  six  months,  a nearly  unanimous 
call  led  to  his  installation  on  the  same  day  on  which 
his  predecessor  was  dismissed.  But  neither  in  this 
instance  did  a change  of  ministers  secure  the  church 
against  the  fate  which  so  inveterately  pursued  its 
chosen  pastors.  After  preaching  for  a time  Mr.  Voor- 
hees was  compelled  to  relinquish  his  charge,  but  his 
formal  dismission  did  not  take  place  till  the  5th  of  May 


CHURCHES 


25 


1880,  when  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Lovering, 
was  installed  as  the  fourteenth  pastor  of  the  church 
and  so  remained. 

A question  had  long  been  in  issue  between  the  city 
and  the  First  Parish  touching  their  respective  estates 
in  the  land  occupied  by  the  Old  South.  The  city 
claimed  the  land  and  wished  to  remove  the  building, 
and  the  parish  resisted  the  claim  and  wished  to  pre- 
serve the  building.  Things  remained  in  this  condition 
until  1885,  when  the  city  obtained  from  the  legislature 
authority  to  take  all  the  title  and  interest  of  the  parish. 
In  May  1886,  the  city  council  voted  to  take  under  the 
act.  Thereupon  the  parish  made  an  overture  to  the 
city  towards  an  agreement  upon  the  amount  of 
damages.  The  city  having  declined  to  entertain  the 
overture,  the  parish  then  proceeded,  under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  act,  to  ask  the  Superior  Court  for  the 
appointment  of  commissioners  to  award  damages ; and 
this  was  done.  The  case  came  on  to  be  heard  in  July 
1887,  when  the  city  solicitor,  Frank  P.  Goulding, 
appeared  for  the  city,  and  Senator  George  F.  Hoar  for 
the  parish.  An  exhaustive  preparation  and  all  the 
legal  learning  and  skill  of  the  respective  advocates 
went  into  the  case.  After  weeks  of  deliberation  the 
commissioners  brought  in  an  award  of  $148,400.  The 
city  refused  to  pay  the  award,  and  under  the  act 
claimed  a trial  by  jury.  A compromise  followed 
resulting  in  the  payment  of  $115,395.25.  With  this 
money  the  parish  purchased  a lot  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Wellington  Streets,  and  proceeded  to  erect 
thereon  a church  worthy  of  its  history  and  rank  as  the 
First  Parish  in  the  city  of  Worcester.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  on  the  4th  of  July  1888,  and  the  exterior 


Marginalia 


26 


WOjRCESTEJ^ 


Marginalia 


walls,  of  red  sandstone  throughout,  were  substantially 
completed  by  the  end  of  the  year.  It  is,  without 
doubt,  the  most  imposing  church  edifice  in  the  city.  A 
massive  central  tower,  forty  feet  square  and  rising  on 
four  square  marble  pillars  to  the  height  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  feet  above  the  pavement,  is  the  dominat- 
ing feature.  Another  feature,  appealing  to  a different 
sentiment,  is  the  low  belfry  at  the  northeast  corner,  of 
architecture  curious  and  fine,  in  which  is  suspended, 
as  the  sole  relic  connecting  new  and  old,  the  bell  (cast 
in  1802)  that  swung  for  eighty-five  years  in  the  ok' 
belfry  on  the  Common.  A parish  house  at  the  res 
adding  to  the  mass  and  architectural  completeness 
the  whole  structure,  contains  a variety  and  abund 
of  spacious  apartments  suited  to  all  the  multiplied 
multiplying  requirements  of  modern  church  life, 
cost  of  this  New  Old  South  was  one  hundred 
sixty  thousand  dollars. 

Its  formal  dedication,  with  the  presence  of  an  u* 
sual  array  of  pastors  of  other  churches,  took  pla 
on  the  evening  of  September  17,  1889.  The  member 
ship  of  the  church  at  this  date  was  407. 


The  Calvinist  or  Central  Church. — The  secon. 
church  of  this  order  was  first  named  the  Calvinist 
Church.  It  was  an  outcome,  but  not  an  outgrowth, 
of  the  First  Church.  As  we  have  already  seen,  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Goodrich  resulted  in  a serious  dis- 
affection towards  his  ministry.  Among  the  disaffected 
and  aggrieved  were  Deacon  David  Richards,  his  wife. 
and  eight  others.  In  their  extremity  these  persons 
summoned  a council  (the  third)  to  advise  them  in  the 


CHURCHES 


27 


premises.  This  council  was  convened  on  the  i6th  of 
August  1820,  and  having  heard  the  case  and  approved 
a Confession  of  Faith  and  a Covenant  which  had  been 
presented,  it  proceeded  on  the  17th  to  constitute  the 
applicants  into  a separate  church  under  the  name  of 
the  Calvinist  Church  in  Worcester.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  the  moderator  of  this  council  was  the  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.  D.  For  a certain  length  of 
time  the  new  church  maintained  public  worship  in 
private  places.  The  house  of  its  first  deacon,  David 
Richards,  seems  to  have  been  the  first  and  principal 
place  of  worship.  This  house  stood  near  the  site 
recently  purchased  by  the  United  States  for  the  new 
post-office  building.  In  this  private  way,  without  any 
pastor  or  parish,  the  church  held  itself  together  until 
1822.  In  that  year  “articles  of  association”  looking 
towards  a parish  organization  were  drawn  up  and 
signed.  The  first  signature  was  that  of  Daniel  Waldo, 
under  date  of  April  third ; others  of  the  same  date 
followed,  and  within  the  next  nine  years  more  than  two 
hundred  and  sixty  others  were  added.  On  the  first 
Sunday  following,  April  3,  1822,  regular  public  worship 
was  commenced  in  the  court-house.  This  continued 
until  October  13,  1823,  when  the  society  took  possession 
of  its  meeting-house  which  had  been  erected  by  Mr. 
Waldo  at  a cost  of  fourteen  thousand  dollars.  The 
sermon  at  the  dedication  of  this  house  was  preached  by 
Dr.  Austin  who  was  in  sympathy  with  the  new  church. 
In  the  next  year  the  property  was  conveyed  to  trustees 
for  the  use  of  the  church  and  society.  Early  in  1825 
the  organization  was  perfected  by  the  incorporation  of 
the  Calvinist  Society.  Meanwhile,  on  the  15th  of 
April  1823,  the  Rev.  Loammi  Ives  Hoadly,  who  had 


Marginalia 


28 


WOJ^CESTEJ^ 


supplied  preaching  for  the  previous  year,  was  ordained 
as  the  first  pastor.  His  ministry  was  embarrassed  by 
the  unhappy  relations  which  continued  between  this 
church  and  the  Old  South,  but  still  went  on  with 
increasing  success  until  a severe  sickness  brought  it  to 
a close.  His  dismission,  by  a vote  of  the  church,  took 
place  on  the  19th  of  May  1829.  Recovering  in  a 
measure,  he  engaged  in  various  activities  — as  pastor 
again  for  a brief  period,  editor  of  The  Spirit  of  the 
Pilgrims^  assistant  editor  of  the  Comprehensive  Com- 
mentary^ teacher  and  farmer.  His  last  residence  was  in 
Northfield,  Conn.,  his  native  place,  and  there  he  died 
quite  recently  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-one,  having 
outlived  all  his  successors  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Calvinist 
Church  but  the  last  two. 

During  Mr.  Hoadly’s  ministry  Mr.  Waldo  made  a 
further  addition  of  five  thousand  dollars  to  the 
resources  of  the  society.  Its  growth  continued 
unchecked,  and  in  1830,  and  again  in  1832,  the  church 
edifice  was  variously  enlarged  and  improved.  This 
prosperity  was  due,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  popular 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  who  became 
the  successor  of  Mr.  Hoadly  on  the  28th  of  January 
1830.  During  five  years  Mr.  Abbott  continued  to  go 
in,  and  out  among  his  people  with  great  acceptance. 
While  discharging  his  pastoral  duties,  he  found  time  to 
write  and  publish  two  books  which  made  his  name 
known  in  both  hemispheres.  These  were  “ The  Mother 
at  Home  ” and  “ The  Child  at  Home,”  the  former  of 
which  has  been  translated  and  published  in  nearly  all 
the  languages  of  modern  Europe.  In  1835  Abbott 
asked  and  obtained  a dismission  on  account  of  ill 
health.  After  recuperation  by  a year  of  travel  in 


FimST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


FIRST  BAPTIST 


To  James  Wilson,  postmaster  of  Wor- 
:ester  from  1801  to  1833,  must  be  given 
he  credit  of  having  founded  the  First 
Baptist  Church.  After  meetings  had 
>een  begun  in  his  home  in  1795,  the  hall 
n the  school  house  of  the  district  was 
lired  and  services  first  held  there  July 
0,  1812.  Elder  William  Bentley  was 
;alled  as  pastor  at  a salary  of  $300  a 
^ear. 

The  erection  of  a meeting  house  was 
)egun  May  29,  1813.  It  was  located  on 
Salem  square,was  completed  December 
.3  and  dedicated  December  23  the  same 
/ear.  In  1815  Elder  Bentley  ceased  to 
)e  pastor  and  -was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Jonathan  Going,  who  in  1815  organ- 
zed  the  first  Sunday  school  in  Worces- 
;er.  He  was  pastor  16  years,  the  church 
jrowdng  greatly  in  that  time. 

In  1832  Mr.  Going  left  Worcester  and 
Rev.  Frederick  A.  Willard  was  called, 
serving  until  1835,  when  Rev.  Jonathan 
/Aldrich  became  the  pastor.  During  his 
pastorate,  on  May  21,  1836,  the  meeting 
house  was  burned.  A new  one  was 
built  on  Salem  street  in  1836.  Rev. 
Samuel  B.  Swaim  followed  Mr.  Aldrich 
in  1839,  serving  until  1854. 

In  1841  the  Pleasant  street  church 
sprang  from  the  first  church  and  in 
1853  the  Main  street  churcJh  was  organ- 
ized as  the  Third  Baptist  Church.  Fol- 
lowing Mr.  Swaim  in  1855  came  Rev. 


J.  D.  E.  Jones,  who  stayed  until  1859, 
and  Rev.  Lemuel  Moss  was  then  pas- 
tor from  1860  to  1864. 

Following  pastors  were  Rev.  H.  K. 
Pervear,  1866  to  1872;  Rev.  B.  D.  Mar- 
shall, D.  D..  1873  to  1887,  during  whose 
pastorate  the  Quinsigamond  and  Lin- 
coln square  missions  were  begun,  af- 
terwards becoming  churches:  Rev.  Geo. 
G.  Craft,  1888  to  1894;  and  Rev.  Spencer 
B.  Meeser,  D.  D.,  1896  to  1902,  during 
w'hose  service  in  1897  the  church  reach- 
ed its  largest  membership — 525. 

Meanwhile  the  Main  street  church 
had  had  eight  pastors  from  1854  to 
1902.  They  were:  Rev.  H.  L.  Way- 

land,  1854  to  1861;  Rev.  Joseph  Banvard, 
D.  D.,  1862  to  1866;  Rev.  George  B.  Gow, 
1867  to  1872;  Rev.  F.  W.  Bakeman,  1873 
to  1876;  Rev.  George  E.  Horr,  1877  to 
1881;  Rev.  Henry  A.  Rogers,  1883  to 
1886;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Pendleton,  1887 
to  1894,  and  Rev.  Leo  B.  Thomas,  1896 
to  1901. 

In  1902  the  Salem  square  continuation 
of  the  First  Baptist  church  and  the 
Main  street  section  were  consolidated 
as  the  new  First  Baptist  church  and 
the 'first  pastor  of  the  united  churcli 
was  Rev.  Lemuel  Call  Barnes,  D.  D., 
who  served  until  1907.  During  his  pas- 
torate the  present  m.^gnificent  struc- 
ture was  e^'ccted  at  the  corner  of  Main 
street  and  Mower  avenue,  and  the  old 
church  at  the  corner  of  Hermon  street, 
now’  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
was  given  up.  From  1907  to  1909  the 
pulpit  was  vacant,  but  in  the  latter 
year  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Allyn 
King  Foster,  w’as  called. 


jai,  abfeibLtRi  Dy  Misses  Jilgiantme 
and  Alexandrina  Provencal.  Those 
present  were  Florence  and  Mabel  Roch- 
eleau,  Anna  and  Mary  Louis  Larose, 
Sylvia  and  Antoinette  A.  Cartier,  Mar- 
tha Sanders,  Sylvia  P.  Gagnon.  Evelina 
Gagnon,  James  Larose,  Mrs  Josephine 
Labonte,  Anna  Ward,  Ida  Bouthilette, 
Belle  Cartier,  Mrs  Denise  Larose,  Miss 
Roberge,  .Joseph  Germaine  and  Mrs 
Edward  Predette. 


ILHIU  UUilHULL 


Ji  ji 

Miss  Delia  Rochford  and  George  I. 
Rochford  of  8 Ingleside  avenue  will 
entertain  in  their  hometonight  in  honor 
of  their  cousin,  Louis  R.  Delinas  of 
Marlboro,  who  is  to  leave  soon  for 
Philadelphia  to  resume  his  medical 
studies.  Mrs.  Onesime  Rochford  will 
assist  in  entertaining. 

^ 

Members  of  the  Worcester  Evening 
High  School  Alumni  Association  will 
have  a chestnutting  party  tomorrow  at 
Leicester.  The  party  will  leave  City 
Hall  at  1 o'clock.  Robert  J.  Cairns  is 
chairman  of  the  arrangements  com- 
mittee. 

Jl  JC 


TO  BE  IISTE 


A miscellaneous  shower  was  given  for 
Miss  Helen  G.  McCarrick  last  night 
in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  A. 
Carey  at  49  Vernon  street.  Miss  Mc- 
Carrick is  to^  marry  George  E.  Carey 
October  24.  In  the  party  were  Miss 
May  Dolan,  Miss  May  Hickey,  Miss 
Helen  Gallagher,  Miss  May  Carey,  Miss 
May  Turley,  Miss  Sadie  Turley,  Miss 
May  McCarthy,  Miss  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Nulty, Mrs.  George  McGlynn,  Miss  Ag- 
nes Luby,  Miss  May  Condon,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  James  Gallagher,  Miss  Bertha 
Scully,  Miss  Minnie  Reilly,  Miss  Flor- 
ence Rourke,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J^ank  Mc- 
Glynn, Miss  Katherine  Heald,  Miss 
Annie  Quinn,  John  Carey,  Frank  Cham- 
I pagne,  Walter  Buck,  John  Vail,  John 
Geary  and  Thomas  A.  Carey. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  Gazette: 
Sir,-— The  Secretary  of  the  Pub 
Education  Association  in  reporting  t 
meeting  of  the  executive  board  Thui 
day  said:  "The  members  of  the  the 
tro  committee  will  examine  a lar 
number  of  plays,  and  make  a list 
those  suitable  for  use,  by  children  a) 
young  people,  such  list  to  be  ke 
on  file  for  those  desiring  them."  T1 
statement  in  your  paper  that  "tl 
committee  would  make  a list  of  the 
tres  suitable  for  children  to  go  to" 
too  serious  a mistake  to  go  uncorrec 
ed.  That  some  committees  are  mai 
to  report,  in  same  article,,  which  d 
not  report,  is  of  slight  consequen 
compared  with  the  above  false  repo: 
Kindy  insert  the  above  correctl( 
where  it  can  easily  be  seen,  and  oblin 
Very  respectfully  yours, 
ELIZA  D.  ROBINSON, 
Secretary 


Among  The 


^ ^ ^ 


Miss  Helen  L.  Savory,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  P.  Savory,  of  30 
Bowdoin  street,  whose  marriage  is  to 
take  place  Oct.  11,  was  given  a fare- 
well party  last  night  in  the  home  of 
Miss  Alice  Eleanor  Hart  at  688  Main 
street.  Fifteen  young  woman  friends 
of  Miss  Savory  were  present  and  she 
was  presented  a chafing  dish.  A buf- 
fet luncheon  was  served,  the  decora- 
tions being  autumn  leaves  and  greenry. 


^ ^ ^ 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Harris  gave 
their  first  at  home  last  evening  at  1 
Shawmut  street.  A musical  program 
was  given  by  Joheps  Paul,  Miss  Mamie 
Leahy,  Miss  Anna  Werme  and  Miss 
May  Fitzgerald.  The  decorations  were 
of  autumn  leaves  and  potted  palms  and 
refreshments  were  served  by  Mrs.  Har- 
ris, assisted  by  Miss  Mamie  Leahy, 
Mrs.  James  O’Brien,  Mrs.  John  Hud- 
son and  Mrs.  T.  J.  Harris.  The  guests 
were:  Misses  Katherine  Ryan,  Alice 

Amidon,  Fannie  Shinner,  Abbie  Skin- 
ner, Lillian  Darling,  Sadie  Matthews, 
Edith  Daniels,  Addle  Allen,  Annie  Mc- 
Taggert,  Nellie  Blackbury,  Eva  Kid- 
der, Bertha  Kidder,  Eva  ^ Duhamel, 
Mamie  Ryan,  Eva  Largesse,  Violet 
Largesse,  May  Fitzgerald,  Marion  Ed- 
dy,, Ruth  Eddy,  Emily  Connelly,  Mary 
Keily,  Florence  Pierce,  Margaret  Far- 
rell, Hattie  Heaton,  Sadie  Maher, 
Anna  Bilsky,  Nellie  Brown,  Mabel  Ma- 
her, Nellie  McHugh,  Helen  Breen,  Ger- 
trude Cavanaugh,  Nora  Fogerty, 
Mamie  Leahy,  May  Harris,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Frank  Farrell,  Edmund  Finni- 
come,  Mrs.  James  O’Brien,  Mr.  Louis 
Smith,  Mrs.  Calvin  Brackett,  Joseph 
Paul,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Harris, 
Mrs.  John  Hudson,  Mr.  Charles  Hel- 
ler and  Mrs.  Mary  Heller. 


u Church  Women 


The  Junior  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  of  O 
South  church  had  an  advertisement  s< 
cial  in  the  church  last  night.  Tl 
young  people  were  dressed  to  represei 
the  leading  articles  advertised  in  maj 
azines  and  newspapers.  Superintend 
ent  Katheryn  G.  Cooley  was  in  charg 

^ 


Mrs  F.  E.  Atwood,  Mrs  E.  F.  Fletcl 
er,  Mrs  Hattie  Bicknell,  Mrs  Nell 
Kibby,  Mrs  A.  S.  Knapp  and  Mrs  E.  j: 
Richards  compose  the  committee  i 
charge  of  ihe  supper  and  entertain 
ment  to  be  given  tonight  in  the  vestr 
of  All  Souls’  church,  under  the  direcii 
tion  of  the  Ladies’  Social  Aid  Sociei 
of  the  church.  Following  the  suppe 
there  will  be  phonographic  selection! 
by  Dr  Henry  Watkins,  readings  b: 
Miss  Bernice  Hunt,  and  an  address  b: 
Hon  A.  S;  Roe  on  "Evening  Schools, 


^ JZ 

The  McAll  Auxiliary  met  in  the  paiij 
lor  of  Union  church  yesterday  after: 
noon.  There  was  a good  attendant  ^ 
Mrs  S*  A.  Harlow,  the  president,  wa 
in  charge  of  the  meeting.  Rev  S.  J 
Harlow  led  a short  devotional  servic 
It  was  reported  that  $379.73  had  bee 
received  towai;;d  the  $1000  pledged  f 
help  the  building  of  a new  hall  in  Pari 
where  three  halls  are  now  building. 

Rev  George  P.  Berry,  American  flel 
secretary,  gave  an  interesting  addres 
on  "Present  Conditions  In  Prance, 
and  he  made  an  appeal  for  funds  1 
help  the  work.  Cards  were  distribute 
to  receive  pledges  to  try  to  raise  $i 
before  the  next  meeting,  the  first  Mon 
day  in  December.  The  presld<»r 
pledged  herself  to  try  to  raise  $10.  Af 
ter  the  offering,  the  meeting  adjourne 
and  a- social  half-hour  followed,  te 
being  served  by  Mrs  Lamson  Allen  an' 
Mrs  Henry  Brannon,  with  their  assist! 
ants,  of  Union  church. 


f- 

< ./■.>•»•'  >>  <■ 


■V 


Few  churches  of  equal  history  have 
ad  so  many  noted  clergymen  conneet- 
d with  them  as  has  All  Saints’,  the 
lother  church  of  the  Episcopal  church- 
s of  'Worcester.  In  addition  to  the 
lev  Wiiliam  Reed  Huntington,  rector 
f Grace  church,  New  York,  the  late 
lishop  Alexander  Hamilton  'V^inton, 
nd  Bishop  Thomas  Frederick  Davies, 
11  successive  rectors  of  the  parish,  the 
^vo  clergymen  who  first  labored  to  es- 
iblish  an  Episcopal  church  in  V/or- 
ester  also  became  bishops  later  in 
aeir  lives. 

The  rirst  of  these  was  Rev  Thomas  H. 
'ail,  who  began  to  conduct  services  in 
le  Town  Rail  in  ISSh.  He  \vas  later 
, ishop  of  Kansas.  In  18S7  Rev  Thomas 
[.  Clark,  later  bishop  of  Rhode  Island, 
ontinued  the  work  which  was,  how- 
ver,  suspended  until  18-13  when  the 
arish  wa.s  actually  established  by  Rev 
Tenry  Blackaller. 

A suiall  v/ooden  church  was  built  on 
'earl  street  in  1846  and  consecrated  by 
bishop  Eastburn  in  1847.  Rev  George 
|.  Chapman  was  then  rector  and  v/as 
Bllqwcd  by  Rev  George  H.  Clark,  Rev 
■ athaniel  T.  Bent,  Rev  Archibald  M. 


Morrison,  Rev  William  N.  Brooks,  Rev 

A.  C.  Putnam  and  Rev  E.  W.  Hager. 

In  1862  Rev  William  Reed  Huntington 

one  of  the  most  noted  clergymen  of  the 
American  church,  began  a rectorship 
Qf  21  years  at  All  Saints.  In  1874  the 
church  was  burnecl.  and  a new  building 
the  present  edifice  at  Pleasant  amd  Irv- 
ing street-s,  was  begun..  R w-as  de- 
signed by  Earle  & Fuller.  The  coner- 
stone  was  i.aid  Jup/  25,  1875,  and  the 
church  w’as  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Paddock.  Jan  24,  1377. 

In  1884  Rev  Alexander  II.  Vinton  be- 
came rector,  serving  for  18  years  or 
until  he  became  first  bishop  of  western 
Massa.chusetts,  to  which  office  ho  was 
consecrated  April  22,  1902.  Rev  T'nomas 
P.  Davies  was  called  in  1903,  serving 
until  his  consecration  as  second  bish- 
op of  western  Massachusetts,  succeed- 
ing Bishop  Vinton,  on  October  IS  last. 

Built  into  the  south  wail  of  the  tower 
porch  of  the  church  are  twm  scones 
from  Worcester  c-athecrah  England, 
pre.sented  by  the  dean  tend  cliemter  of 
the  cathedral,  and  marked  by  a phite 
bearing  an  inscription  written  by  the 
dea.li. 

The  parish  is  at  present  without  a 
rector  and  is  in  ch.ai gc  of  Rev  Charles 

B.  Short,  assisted  by  Rev  Charles  P. 
Oii.s,  ivho  were  curates  under  Rev  Dr 
Davies. 


<WELL  YOO  3TICK 
HEjee  /^NO  l^UL. 
RUN  UP  TO  that 

Farm  house 

AND  ask  FOR- 
SOMG  THING- 
Sc  To  EAT*  V 


damon: 
Tfi  SO 
HUNGRY 


WAR  TIME 

n,i, EVENTS"  ^ 


50  YEARS 


AGO  TODAY= 


DECEMBER  30,  ’61. 

The  21st  Massachusetts  Regiment,  one  of] 
those  from  Worcester  county,  has  long  been 
afflicted  with  the  rumor  that  it  is  to  be  left 
out  of  the  Burnside  Expedition  for  which  such 
extensive  preparations  are  making  In  Annap- 
olis. Colonel  Morse  of  the  21st  has  conceived 
the  idea  that  a prolonged  stay  in  the  capital 
of  Maryland  may  be  pleasant  and  easy,  but 
his  men  feel  quite  the  reverse  and  after  sev- 
eral parades,  inspections  and  extended  drills, 
they  are  found  to  be  quite  as  good  as  any,  they^ 
are  delighted  to  learn  that  they  are  not  to  bei 
left  but  will  go,  and  their  pride  is  still  further! 
exalted  at  the  thought  that  General  Jesse  I- 
Rono  selects  the  21st,  at  the  very  offgo,  as 
the  first  member  of  his  brigade.  Having  re- 
ceived an  outfit  of  Enfield  rifles  from  Massa- 
chusetts, the  men  now  feel  in  better  condition 
to  face  the  enemy. 

The  State  of  Tennessee  is  finding  the  Con- 
federate Government  a vain  thing  for  safety 
in  that,  when  application  is  made  for  reim- 
bursement for  funds  expended  in  behalf  of  the 
war,  the  said  Government  responds  that  it  is  I 
unable  to  settle  such  liabilities.  Poverty  at  this] 
early  day  of  the  struggle  seems  very  strange, 
considering  the  loud  protestations  earlier  made] 
by  the  secessionists. 

A cutter  and  gig,  commanded  respectively  by  Acting  Masters  Alick  Allen] 
and  Heni-y  L.  Sturges  were  sent  from  the  U.  S.  steamer  Mount  Vernon  to- 
night to  destroy  a lightship  used  by  the  rebels  off  Wilmington,  N.  C.  The 
craft  was  found  deserted,  though  pierced  with  guns  and  almost  ready  for 
harbor  defense.  She  is  burned  to  the  water’s  edge  by  the  Union  force,  though] 
exposed  to  the  fire  opened  upon  them  from  a rebel  fort. 

The  Richmond  Examiner  is  taking  on  terribly  over  the  civilities  offered! 
certain  northern  people,  at  present  in  Richmond.  “We  are  surprised  to  learni 
that  a certain  Yankee,  Dr.  King  from  Newport,  R.  I.,  has  been  permitted  toj 
come  here  to  see  his  sick  son,  a prisoner.  We  are  surprised  to  learn  thatl 
the  doctor,  his  wife  and  son,  are  occupying  very  select  rooms  at  the  Arllng-| 
ton  House.  We  are  surprised  to  learn  that  these  persons  are  called  upon  by] 
the  would-be  elite  of  Richmond,  and  that  women  of  Virginia,  making  such! 
social  pretence,  have  been  flocking  to  see  the  Yankee  family  circle  and  toj 
perform  daily  the  debasing  work  of  paying  the  greatest  civilities  to  the  en-I 
emles  of  our  country  and  State.  If  Mrs.  Lincoln  was  only  holding  court  at] 
the  Spotswood,  in  her  celebrated  green  silk  and  Illinois  witchery,  we  have] 


no!  iVl  QiVB  You\ 
nothing  to  eat?  \ 

WE  DON'T  FEEO  J 
tramps  in  this  / 
Bor  Hood!  y 


CHURCHES 


29 


Europe,  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  very  active  life 
in  various  pursuits,  but  became  known  to  the  wide 
world  chiefly  as  the  author  of  many  popular  books. 
Mr.  Abbott  was  born  in  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  graduated 
at  Bowdoin  in  1825.  He  died  at  Fair  Haven,  Conn., 
on  the  17th  of  June  1877. 

His  successor  was  the  Rev.  David  Peabody,  a 

native  of  Topsfield,  who  was  installed  in  1835  within 

six  months  after  the  pulpit  had  become  vacant.  His 

ministry  was  short  and  much  interrupted  by  ill  health. 

In  the  year  following  his  settlement,  under  the  advice 

of  his  physicians,  he  sailed  for  the  South  where  he 

spent  the  winter.  A temporary  improvement  enabled 

him  to  resume  his  pastoral  duties  in  Worcester.  But 

the  attack  on  his  lungs  — for  that  was  his  malady  — 

again  enforced  cessation  from  pulpit  labor.  He 

improved  the  time  in  travel.  Arriving  in  Hanover, 

N.  H.,  the  day  after  commencement,  he  learned  to  his 

surprise  that  he  had  been  appointed  Professor  of 

Rhetoric  in  Dartmouth  College,  his  alma  mater.  This, 

taken  with  the  state  of  his  health,  determined  his 

course.  He  obtained  a dismission  from  his  pastoral 

charge,  and  in  October  1838  entered  upon  the  duties 

of  his  new  office.  His  tenure  of  this,  however,  was 

brief.  His  death  occurred  on  the  17th  of  October 

1839,  after  one  year  of  college  service  greatly  impeded 

by  illness.  The  career  of  Professor  Peabody  was  as 

brilliant  as  it  was  brief.  His  intellectual  powers  were 

of  a high  order.  His  mental  discipline  was  thorough, 

his  scholarship  fine.  His  character  was  “ a rare 

combination  of  strength  and  loveliness.”  With  a 

figure  and  face  of  manly  beauty  and  a rich  and  mellow 

voice,  he  stood  before  his  people  in  the  pulpit  a 

5 


Marginalia 


30 


WORCESTER 


preacher  of  singular  attractions.  His  memory  long 
continued  to  be  fragrant  in  Worcester. 

The  next  pastor  of  the  Central  Church  was  the  Rev. 
Seth  Sweetser.  His  pastorate  covered  a period  of 
forty  years.  It  began  on  the  19th  of  December  1838, 
and  ended  with  his  decease,  in  1878.  During  this 
period,  in  1845,  occurred  the  death  of  Daniel  Waldo, 
in  a large  sense  the  founder  of  the  society.  In  his  will 
he  continued  to  remember  it  for  good  by  devising  to 
it,  in  connection  with  the  church,  a valuable  real  estate 
upon  which  stood  the  chapel  of  the  society  and  a 
dwelling-house.  In  1858  occurred  the  first  interruption 
to  the  prevailing  harmony.  Until  then  the  expenses 
had  been  defrayed  by  a tax  on  the  polls  and  estates  of 
the  members.  Under  a new  statute  the  expenses  were 
raised  by  an  assessment  on  the  pews.  This  change 
caused  the  withdrawal  of  a considerable  number  of 
rich  and  influential  members.  But  the  vital  forces  of 
the  body  soon  healed  the  breach  and  supplied  new 
strength.  Forty  additional  pews  w'ere  provided  to  help 
bear  the  burden  of  the  new  tax. 

Dr.  Sweetser  was  not  a magnetic  preacher  ; he  had 
not  the  gift  oratorical,  but  his  compositions  for  the 
pulpit  were  of  rare  finish.  He  published  occasional 
sermons  which  amply  repaid  perusal.  On  the  death  of 
President  Lincoln  he  gave  a discourse  which  had  no 
superior,  whether  of  pulpit  or  platform,  in  the  whole 
range  of  productions  called  forth  by  that  event.  It 
was  sought  for  from  distant  cities  and  the  edition  was 
exhausted  before  the  demand  was  supplied.  In  his 
last  years  Dr.  Sweetser’s  health  declined  until  he  was 
at  length  compelled  to  surrender  the  pulpit.  But 
church  and  parish  were  unwilling  to  sunder  the  tie 


CHURCHES  31 

which  had  bound  them  so  long  together,  and  though 
his  service  ceased,  his  support  (not  his  salary)  was 
measurably  continued  until  his  death.  Dr.  Sweetser 
was  born  at  Newburyport  in  1807  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1827.  For  a time  he  was  a tutor  in  the 
university,  and  in  after  years  a member  of  the  board 
of  overseers.  He  sustained  the  same  relation  to 
Andover  Seminary.  Of  the  Polytechnic  Institute  in 
Worcester  he  was  an  original  corporator  and  trustee, 
and  to  it  he  gave  his  best  thought  and  work.  Of  the 
city  he  was  an  unobtrusive  leading  citizen,  and  among 
the  clergy  of  the  State  he  was  a power.  The  basis  of 
his  influence  was  wisdom  coupled  with  reserve. 

On  the  19th  of  November  1874,  the  Rev.  Henry  E. 
Barnes,  a graduate  of  Yale  in  i860,  was  installed  as 
junior  pastor.  On  the  third  of  May  1876,  after  a year 
and  a half  of  service,  he  was  dismissed  ; and  soon  was 
settled  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  where  a large  measure  of 
success  rewarded  his  labors.  For  nearly  two  years 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  candidates  and  quasi-candi- 
dates. Many  were  called,  but  few  chosen.  Then  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Merriman  (D.  D.  1881),  a graduate  of 
Williams  College,  united  all  voices  in  calling  him  to 
the  vacant  place.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  in 
February  1878  he  w^as  installed,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Richard 
S.  Storrs,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  preaching  the  sermon. 
Within  a month  came  the  death  of  Dr.  Sweetser.  In 
no  long  time  after,  the  subject  of  building  a new  church 
began  to  be  agitated,  and  foremost  in  the  agitation  was 
the  new  pastor.  A conditional  subscription  was  set  on 
foot  and  the  required  amount  was  provided  for ; but 
the  enterprise  developed  antagonisms,  which,  in  the 
interest  of  peace,  made  it  necessary  and  certain  that 


Margmalia 


32 


IVORCESTEJ^ 


one  party  or  the  other  should  and  would  withdraw. 
Accordingly,  four-fifths  of  the  trustees,  all  but  one  of 
the  deacons,  the  men  whose  money  had  been  chiefly 
relied  on,  and  a large  body  of  others,  old  and  young 
quietly  left  their  church  home  of  a generation,  volv 
tarily  surrendered  all  the  property  and  dispersed  th 
selves  among  other  churches.  But  Providence,  “ 
seeming  evil  still  educing  good,”  inspired  the  crip 
church  with  courage  to  arise  and  build,  and  the  r 
was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  churches  in  the  city  . 
elsewhere.  It  stands  as  a conspicuous  monumen 
the  recuperative  power  of  a Christian  democracy  ur 
adverse  conditions.  At  its  completion  no  root 
bitterness  remained  to  bear  evil  fruit,  and  those  wi 
withdrew  and  those  who  remained  sat  amicably  side  b}, 
side  at  the  dedication  of  the  new  house.  Its  beautie 
were  afterwards  celebrated  by  the  graceful  pen  c. 
Prof.  Churchill  in  the  Andover  Review.  The  cost  of 
the  church  and  land  was  about  $105,000. 

On  the  30th  of  October  in  the  year  1889,  Mr.  Leon 
D.  Bliss  was  ordained  as  assistant  pastor.  For  more 
than  a year  before  he  had  been  rendering  acceptable 
service  in  the  church  as  the  pastor’s  assistant,  and 
church  and  parish  now  united  in  making  him  one 
their  ordained  ministers.  Mr.  Bliss  had  his  theologies- 
education  at  Andover.  In  October  1889,  the  membe 
ship  of  this  church  was  398. 


The  Union  Church. — In  the  autumn  of  1834  a 
few  young  men,  chiefly  from  the  Old  South  Church, 
conspicuous  among  whom  was  Ichabod  Washburn,  la: 
their  plans  for  a new  church.  The  need  of  it  hr 


CHURCHES 


33 


been  felt  for  several  years,  and  it  seemed  to  them  that 
the  time  to  act  had  fully  come.  Accordingly,  the 
preliminary  steps  were  taken,  and  on  the  nth  of 
March  1835,  were  duly  incorporated  under  the 

name  and  style  of  the  “ Proprietors  of  the  Union 
Meeting-house.”  At  a meeting  held  in  December  of 
the  same  year  it  was  voted  that  the  name  of  the  new 
church  should  be  “The  Union  Church.”  In  January 
1836,  Articles  of  Faith  and  a Covenant  were  unani- 
mously adopted,  and  on  the  third  of  February  follow- 
ing a council  constituted  the  new  church  with  the 
customary  formalities.  On  the  fifth  of  March  the 
society  held  its  first  meeting,  and  on  the  6th  of  July 
its  new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated.  It  was  a 
plain  brick  structure  of  90  feet  by  54,  situated  on 
Front  Street,  opposite  the  historic  Common.  Made 
more  commodious  in  1845-46,  it  was  superseded  in 
1880  by  a more  beautiful  but  not  more  spacious  edifice 
erected  on  the  same  site. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  Union' Church  was  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  E.  Woodbridge,  of  the  church  in  Ware  Village. 
His  installation  took  place  on  the  24th  of  November 
1836.  His  ministry  began  when  the  anti-slavery 
movement  was  burning  its  way  through  the  churches. 
Union  Church  did  not  escape.  Mr.  Woodbridge  took 
one  side  and  the  society  took  the  other  on  the  question 
of  opening  the  church  for  anti-slavery  lectures.  On  the 
19th  of  January  1838,  the  society,  by  a vote  of  forty-five 
to  twelve,  decided  to  open  the  house  to  the  famous 
anti-slavery  agitators,  James  G.  Birney  and  Henry  B. 
Stanton.  Mr.  Woodbridge  thereupon  promptly  tend- 
ered his  resignation,  and  on  the  second  of  February 
the  society  as  promptly  accepted  it  and  called  a 


34 


WORCESTER 


council  to  dissolve  the  relation  between  them.  The 
first  call  to  this  pastorate,  though  unanimous  on  the 
part  of  church  and  parish,  had  been  declined  by  Mr. 
Woodbridge.  Upon  a second  and  more  urgent  call  he 
had  consented  to  come,  only  to  discover  in  one  short 
year  that  he  and  his  people  could  never  agree  on  the 
great  divisive  question  of  the  day.  His  dismission 
took  place  on  the  14th  of  February.  After  leaving 
Worcester  he  became  more  widely  known  to  the 
churches  as  editor  of  the  New  England  Puritan^  after- 
wards made  one  with  the  Boston  Recorder  under  the 
name  of  the  Puritan  Recorder. 

The  second  pastor  of  the  Union  Church  was  the 
Rev.  Elam  Smalley,  who  was  installed  on  the  19th  of 
September,  1838.  For  nine  years  previous  he  had 
been  associate  pastor  with  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons, 
D.  D.,  of  Franklin.  Doubtless  he  had  profited  by  such 
a long  association  with  that  remarkable  divine,  but  no 
two  persons  could  be  more  unlike  in  their  mental 
characteristics.  Reasoning,  which  so  eminently  distin- 
guished the  Franklin  doctor,  was  not  Dr.  Smalley’s 
forte  or  aspiration.  He  sought  rather  to  edify  by 
pleasing.  If  he  did  not  prophesy  smooth  things,  he 
yet  prophesied  in  a smooth  way.  What  he  aimed  at  he 
accomplished.  The  church  was  built  up,  and  his 
ministry  of  fifteen  years  was  a success.  The  society 
testified  its  appreciation  by  repeated  additions  to  his 
salary.  In  due  time  he  was  decorated  with  the  doctor- 
ate of  divinity.  After  seven  years  the  meeting-house 
was  altered  so  as  to  secure  one  hundred  additional 
sittings,  while  Deacon  Ichabod  Washburn  at  his  own 
cost  provided  a vestry  and  Sunday-school  room  in  the 
basement.  In  1844  the  society  accepted  from  the 


CHURCHES 


35 


“ Proprietors  of  the  Union  Meeting-house  ” a deed  of 
all  their  corporate  property  and  assumed  all  their 
corporate  liabilities.  On  the  eighth  of  May  1854,  Dr. 
Smalley  asked  a dismission,  in  order  “ to  enter  another 
field  of  labor.”  The  request  was  granted,  and  he 
shortly  after  became  the  pastor  of  the  Third  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  there,  on  the 
30th  of  July  1858,  he  died.  In  1851  he  published 
“ The  Worcester  Pulpit,  with  Notices  Biographical  and 
Plistorical.”  The  plan  of  the  work  included  a sketch 
of  each  church  and  pastor  in  each  denomination,  with 
specimen  sermons.  It  is  a valuable  source  of  informa- 
ation  touching  the  churches  of  Worcester. 

The  Rev,  J.  W.  Wellman,  a graduate  and  afterwards 
a trustee  of  Dartmouth,  was  the  next  choice  of  Union 
Church.  He  justified  their  choice  by  declining  the  call 
from  a sense  of  duty  to  the  obscurer  church  of  which 
he  was  then  the  pastor.  Dr.  Wellman  at  a later  day 
became  conspicuous  as  the  only  trustee  of  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  who  resisted  the  “ new  depart- 
ure.” Failing  to  secure  him,  the  church  next  extended 
a call  to  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Cutler,  of  St.  Albans,  Vt. 
The  call  was  accepted  and  the  pastor-elect  was  installed 
on  the  sixth  of  September  1855.  At  the  same  time  a 
subscription  for  a pastor’s  library  was  set  on  foot  which 
resulted  in  a substantial  sum  for  that  essential  but 
much  neglected  furnishing  of  a church.  In  1859  began 
a series  of  efforts,  continuing  through  several  years,  for 
either  the  enlargement  of  the  old  or  the  building  of  a 
new  house  of  worship.  Votes  were  passed  to  mortgage, 
to  sell  the  old  house,  to  examine  sites,  to  build  a new 
house,  to  raise  money  by  subscription.  An  abiding 
feeling  that  the  church  was  not  well  housed  for  doing 


Marginalia 


36 


WOJ^CESTER 


Marginalia 


its  most  effective  work  lay  at  the  bottom  of  these 
spasmodic  efforts.  But  out  of  it  all  the  chief  thing 
realized  at  the  time  was  only  a small  addition  to  the 
rear  for  the  organ  and  choir.  The  new  church  was 
still  in  the  future. 

Dr.  Cutler  continued  his  ministry  with  growing 
reputation  until  1865,  when  he  was  elected  president 
of  Vermont  University.  This  called  forth  an  urgent 
appeal  from  his  people  not  to  leave  them,  and  he  con- 
sequently declined  the  flattering  offer.  Shortly  after, 
he  received  a tender  of  the  Professorship  of  Ecclesias- 
tical History  in  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  but 
this  also  he  promptly  put  aside  without  waiting  for  it 
to  take  formal  shape.  In  the  autumn  of  1874  he 
initiated  the  proceedings  which  resulted  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Worcester  Congregational  Club,  of  which 
he  became  the  first  president.  The  subsequent  history 
of  the  club  amply  vindicated  itself  and  him.  In  the 
winter  of  1877  a bronchial  malady  compelled  him  to 
seek  relief  in  other  climates.  First  going  to  Florida, 
and  in  the  summer  to  Europe,  he  was  absent  from  his 
pulpit  until  the  following  October,  when  he  resumed 
preaching,  though  not  fully  recovered.  Early  in  1878, 
under  stress  of  circumstances,  he  finally  resigned  his 
pulpit,  retaining,  however,  his  office.  The  pastoral 
relation  was  not  dissolved  until  the  nth  of  October 
1880,  just  before  the  installation  of  his  successor.  The 
council,  in  dismissing  him,  made  mention  of  his  “ wide 
usefulness  ” and  “ profound  scholarship,”  and  gave  him 
the  name  of  “ a Christian  man  without  fear  and  without 
reproach.”  He  continued  to  worship  with  the  Union 
Church  which  subsequently  testified  its  affection  and 
esteem  by  honoring  him  with  the  title  of  pastor  emeritus . 


CHURCHES 


37 


For  nearly  two  years  the  Rev.  George  H.  Gould, 
D.  D.,  supplied  the  pulpit  in  connection  with  the  testing 
of  candidates  by  preaching.  During  this  period  the 
new  church,  so  long  desired  and  so  long  delayed,  was 
erected  on  the  old  site.  As  already  remarked,  it  was  a 
more  beautiful  though  less  capacious  edifice  than  the 
old  one.  The  cost  was  thirty-seven  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  A new  organ  of  fine  quality  and 
appearance  added  to  the  attractions.  The  dedication 
of  the  house  took  place  on  Sunday  the  loth  day  of 
October  1880,  on  which  occasion  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Stimson,  the  pastor 
elect.  On  the  14th,  Mr.  Stimson  was  duly  installed. 
He  was  a graduate  of  Yale  and  came  to  his  new  charge 
from  a highly  successful  ministry  in  Minneapolis.  His 
ministry  in  Worcester  was  distinguished  by  remarkably 
energetic  parochial  work.  The  young  were  especially 
soon  made  to  feel  of  how  much  church  work  they,  too, 
were  capable.  The  printing-press  was  brought  into 
play  and  a Sunday  bulletin  was  issued  every  week. 
The  service  of  song  was  extended  and  enriched.  And 
by  the  plan  of  free  seats  on  Sunday  evenings  the  poor 
had  the  gospel  preached  to  them.  Large  congregations 
rewarded  these  efforts,  large  additions  to  the  church 
followed.  In  the  midst  of,  perhaps  because  of,  this 
marked  success.  Dr.  Stimson  received  a call  from  the 
church  in  St.  Louis  of  which  the  lamented  Dr. 
Constans  L.  Goodell  had  been  pastor,  and  he  decided 
it  to  be  his  duty  to  accept  the  call.  His  dismission, 
much  to  the  sorrow  of  his  people,  took  place  in  June 

1886.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  William  V.  W.  Davis, 
was  installed  as  his  successor  on  the  15th  of  April 

1887.  He  was  a graduate  of  Amherst  in  the  class  of 

6 


Marginalia 


38 


WORCESTER 


1873,  had  his  first  settlement  in  Manchester,  N.  H.,  ] 

and  was  called  to  Worcester  from  Euclid  Avenue  •' 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Within  the  ■* 

first  year  of  his  ministry  one  hundred  members  were  \ 
added  to  the  church.  ,| 

On  the  3d  of  July  1889,  the  church  took  action  in  >> 

favor  of  employing  a pastor’s  assistant  and  of  inviting  ^ 

the  Rev.  W.  S.  Kelsey  to  accept  that  position.  The  ’■< 

invitation  was  accepted  and  on  the  ist  of  September  ^ 

he  began  his  work.  To  look  after  strangers,  assist  the  ^ 

young  people  in  their  work  and  superintend  the  Sunday- 
school  were  among  the  duties  assigned  to  him.  He  was 
also  put  in  charge  of  the  mission  church  at  Lake  | 
View.  This  experiment  was  made  possible  by  the  fi 

offer  of  certain  brethren  to  guaranty  his  salary  for  | 

one  year.  Mr.  Kelsey  came  to  the  Union  Church  ^ 

from  the  Congregational  Church  in  Windham,  Conn., 
over  which  he  had  been  ordained  in  1885. 

The  membership  of  Union  Church  in  October  1889 
was  548.  j 

J 

Salem  Street  Church.  — This  church  was  the  | 

result  of  a joint  contribution  of  men  and  means  from  | 

the  Old  South,  the  Calvinist  and  the  Union  Churches. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  city  from  1840  to  1848  had 
impressed  the  pastors  and  brethren  of  those  churches  | 
with  a conviction  that  the  time  had  come  for  the 
organization  of  a fourth  church  of  their  way.  Meas-  ; 

ures  were  accordingly  taken  in  1847  for  the  erection  of  < 

a church  edifice.  Meanwhile  the  persons  enlisted  in  j 

the  new  enterprise  held  preliminary  meetings,  adopted 
a creed  and  covenant,  and  on  the  14th  of  June  1848 


CHURCHES 


39 


I 

I 

if 

I 


were  recognized  as  a church  in  a formal  manner.  Of 
the  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  who  constituted  the 
membership,  eighty  went  out  from  the  Union  Church, 
thirty  from  the  Calvinist  Church  and  the  rest  mostly 
from  the  Old  South.  The  new  church  had  its  place  of 
worship  in  the  city  hall  until  the  12th  of  December 
1848,  when  the  new  house,  which  had  been  erected  on 
Salem  Street,  was  dedicated.  The  cost  was  somewhat 
less  than  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars ; the  money 
was  collected  out  of  the  three  sponsorial  churches.  On 
the  day  following  the  dedication  occurred  the  ordina- 
tion of  the  Rev.  George  Bushnell  and  his  installation 
as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church.  The  sermon  on  this 
occasion  was  preached  by  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Horace  Bushnell,  D.  D.  Mr.  Bushnell  was  a graduate 
of  Yale  in  1842,  and  had  his  theological  education  at 
Auburn  and  New  Haven.  He  prosecuted  his  ministry 
with  great  satisfaction  to  his  parishioners  for  nine 
years,  and  then  found  it  prudent,  because  of  impaired 
health,  to  withdraw  from  pastoral  labor.  By  accepting 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  public  schools  in 
Worcester  he  hoped  to  regain  his  health.  However, 
after  nearly  a year  of  this  labor  it  seemed  expedient  to 
lay  down  his  pastoral  charge,  and  he  was  accordingly 
dismissed  on  the  27th  of  January  1858.  Prior  to  this 
date  the  church  had  taken  action  at  sundry  times  to 
provide  a new  pastor.  On  the  23d  of  June  1857,  a 
vote  was  passed  by  a small  majority  to  call  the  Rev. 
Merrill  Richardson,  of  Terryville,  Ct. ; then  at  the 
same  meeting  the  matter  was  indefinitely  postponed. 
On  the  9th  of  November,  by  a nearly  unanimous  vote, 
a call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Eli  Thurston,  of  Fall 
River,  which,  however,  was  declined  by  him.  On  the 


Marginalia 


40 


WORCESTER 


2ist  of  December  the  church  again  voted  to  call  Mr. 
Richardson,  and  the  society  concurred  in  the  call.  To 
this  action,  however,  there  was  serious  opposition, 
which  found  expression  before  the  council  convened  to 
install  him.  The  council,  nevertheless,  while  giving 
respectful  heed  to  the  remonstrants,  of  whom  there 
were  forty-eight,  proceeded  with  the  business  before 
them,  and  on  the  27th  of  January  1858,  Mr.  Rich- 
ardson was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Salem  Street 
Church. 

After  this  untoward  beginning  he  went  forward  with 
his  ministry  for  twelve  years.  Then,  on  the  27th  of 
September  1870,  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request 
because  his  eyes  had  failed  him  for  purposes  of  study. 
“ When  he  came  there  was  a storm,  but  when  he  went 
away  there  was  a clear  sky.”  In  two  months  after, 
he  was  settled  over  the  New  England  Congregational 
Church  in  the  city  of  New  York;  and  in  two  years 
after  that  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  Milford, 
Mass.  His  death  occurred  in  December  1876.  It 
was  said  : “ He  gave  the  church  uniting  power,  and 
a certain  healthiness  of  spiritual  life.”  It  was  said 
again  : “ He  was  a warrior  and  a child  ; he  was  rough 
and  gentle.”  And  again  it  was  said  : “ He  sought  to 
produce  everywhere  the  peace  of  God  in  Jesus  Christ.” 
But  it  was  also  said  by  the  late  Judge  Chapin,  a leader 
of  the  Unitarians  and  at  one  time  president  of  the 
American  Unitarian  Convention  : “ Mr.  Richardson 
is  a good  enough  Unitarian  for  me.”  These  testi- 
monies are  all  to  be  considered  in  forming  an  estimate 
of  the  minister  who  won  the  Salem  Street  pulpit  with 
so  much  difficulty,  but  who,  having  won  it,  kept  it 
undisturbed  till  he  chose  to  give  it  up. 


CHURCHES 


41 


On  the  8th  of  March  1881,  the  Rev,  Charles  M. 
Lamson,  of  North  Bridgewater,  received  a unanimous 
call  from  both  church  and  parish.  In  his  letter  of 
acceptance  he  said  that  he  viewed  it  as  “ a call  to  a 
work  rather  than  to  a place,”  and  in  this  spirit  he 
prosecuted  his  ministry.  His  installation  took  place 
on  the  3d  of  May.  In  June  he  was  appointed  chair- 
man of  a committee  to  revise  the  church  standards 
and  to  prepare  a new  manual.  On  May  i,  1872,  the 
creed  as  re-written  by  the  committee  was  reported  and 
unanimously  adopted.  It  would  be  a just  description 
to  say  that  it  was  the  old  creed  liberated  from  the  old 
straitness,  and  some  might  think  from  the  old  straight- 
ness, even.  Entire  harmony  and  deepening  affection 
between  Mr.  Lamson  and  his  people,  increasing  influ- 
ence within  the  city  and  widening  reputation  without, 
marked  his  ministry  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
After  more  than  fourteen  years  of  service  he  felt  admon- 
ished by  the  state  of  his  health  to  ask  a dismission. 
Very  sorrowfully  his  people  yielded  to  his  wish,  and  on 
the  28th  of  September,  1885,  his  dismission  was  declared 
in  a result  of  council,  which  expressed  in  terms  of  rare 
encomium  the  appreciation  of  his  clerical  brethren. 

After  a year  and  more  of  waiting  and  seeking,  the 
Rev.  Isaac  J.  Lansing,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  was  called 
to  the  vacant  pulpit.  The  call  was  unanimous  save 
for  a single  vote.  Mr.  Lansing  was  a minister  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  content  with 
its  doctrines  but  dissatisfied  with  its  polity.  He  dis- 
liked its  three  years’  limitation  of  ministerial  labor. 
He  preferred  the  Congregational  permanency.  The 
call  to  Salem  Street  was  opportune  and  he  at  once 
signified  his  acceptance.  The  installation  took  place 


42 


WOjRCESTER 


Marginalia 


on  the  nth  of  November,  1886.  The  loss  of  Mr. 
Lamson,  and  the  loss  of  members  because  of  that 
loss  and  also  because  of  their  nearness  to  other 
churches  had  greatly  reduced  the  prosperity  of  the 
Salem  Street  Church.  To  the  work  of  its  recovery 
and  enlargement  Mr.  Lansing  brought  all  his  Methodist 
energy  and  forth-putting.  He  devised  liberal  things, 
all  of  which,  however,  he  could  not  at  once  bring  to 
pass.  But  a debt  of  five  thousand  dollars  was  paid 
off,  and  the  meeting-house  was  renovated  and  reseated 
at  an  expense  of  about  eight  thousand  dollars  more. 
Once  more  it  was  filled  with  an  old-time  congregation. 

In  August  1888  a unique  departure  was  initiated.  At 
its  own  motion  and  its  own  cost,  without  aid  from  the 
parish  treasury,  the  church  determined  to  provide  an 
assistant  minister  for  service  over  and  above  and  out- 
side of  the  pastor’s  proper  work.  This  plan  was 
carried  into  effect  on  the  i8th  of  October,  by  the 
engagement  of  the  Rev.  William  W.  Sleeper.  Several 
definite  lines  of  activity  were  contemplated.  The  new 
minister,  a thoroughly  educated  musician,  was  to  take 
in  hand  the  musical  training  of  the  congregation.  He 
was  to  have  a large  Bible-class  of  the  young  men.  He 
was  to  act  as  a missionary  in  the  highways  and  hedges. 
And  he'  was  to  do  service  at  funerals  and  minister 
consolation  to  such  as  had  no  pastor  to  call  upon.  At 
the  opening  of  the  year  1889  this  new  and  varied  work 
was  in  successful  progress ; while,  as  an  important 
reinforcement  for  its  more  pronounced  success,  the 
church  had  in  that  year  secured  the  services  of  Prof. 
Benjamin  D.  Allen,  who  for  thirty-four  years  had  been 
the  organist  of  Union  Church.  The  membership  of 
the  church  in  October  1889  was  570. 


CHURCHES 


43 


Summer  Street  Mission  Chapel. — This  church  I 
had  its  origin  in  the  benevolent  heart  of  Ichabod 
Washburn.  To  provide  “ the  benefits  of  moral  and 
religious  instruction  and  restraint  for  a pretty  numer- 
ous class  of  persons,  living  in  Worcester,”  was  his  aim. 
Accordingly  he  had  erected,  at  his  own  expense,  and 
caused  to  be  dedicated  in  the  spring  of  1855,  a Mission 
Chapel  on  Summer  Street  in  that  city.  At  the  same 
time  he  made  provision  for  the  free  ministry  of  the 
gospel  to  all  who  should  resort  to  the  Chapel  for  such 
a privilege.  The  first  minister  employed  in  this 
service  was  the  Rev.  William  T.  Sleeper,  then  the 
city  missionary.  His  term  of  service  closed  with  the 
close  of  the  year  1856.  Rev.  Samuel  Souther,  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  in  1842,  followed  him  and 
remained  until  1863,  when  he  enlisted  as  a private  in 
the  army  of  the  Union  and  gave  up  his  life  on  the 
battle-field.  Under  his  ministry  an  Industrial  School 
w^as  organized  in  December  1857. 

In  1864  the  Rev.  Henry  T.  Cheever,  a graduate  of 
Bowdoin  in  1834,  succeeded  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Mission  Chapel.  Through  his  inspiration  a movement 
was  begun  for  the  formation  of  a church,  and  on 
December  23,  1864,  eighteen  persons  constituted  them- 
selves the  “ Church  of  the  Summer  Street  Mission 
Chapel,”  by  the  adoption  of  a Confession  of  Faith  and  j 
a Covenant  and  the  election  of  deacons  and  a clerk. 
On  the  2 2d  of  January  1865,  the  church  was  received 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  churches  by  public  “ services 
of  recognition  held  by  a council  in  Union  Church.”  On 
the  third  of  April  the  church  “ constituted  itself  a 
religious  society  ” or  parish,  “ according  to  the  statutes 
of  the  Commonwealth,”  under  the  name  of  “ The 


Marginalia 


44 


WOI^CESTEJ^ 


Marginalia 


Society  of  the  Summer  Street  Mission  Chapel.”  In 
March  1866,  Deacon  Washburn  executed  his  will  and 
made  ample  provision  therein  for  the  perpetual  main- 
tenance of  this  charitable  foundation.  The  Mission 
Chapel  estate  was  devised  to  the  Union  Society,  in 
trust,  “ for  the  purposes  and  trusts  declared  in  the  will, 
and  no  other.”  In  addition,  the  sum  of  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  was  given  for  defraying  the  expenses  of 
maintaining  a minister  and  public  worship,  and  a 
further  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  to  maintain  the 
Industrial  School  connected  therewith.  By  the  decease 
of  Deacon  Washburn  on  the  30th  of  December  1868, 
these  gifts  became  operative. 

Mr.  Cheever  continued  to  be  the  minister  of  the 
Mission  Chapel  until  the  ist  of  April  1873,  when  Mr. 
Sleeper  was  appointed  to  his  place  by  the  joint  action 
of  two  deacons  of  the  Union  Church  and  two  of  the 
Mission  Chapel  Church,  in  accordance  with  the  provi- 
sions of  the  will.  On  the  26th  of  January  1886,  the 
trustees  voted  that  it  was  expedient  to  sell  the  Summer 
Street  property  and  locate  the  church  elsewhere.  This 
action  was  in  harmony  with  the  views  and  wishes  of 
the  Mission  Church  and  its  minister.  But  it  was 
strenuously  resisted  by  the  former  minister,  Mr. 
Cheever,  and  by  the  widow  of  Deacon  Washburn,  on 
the  ground  that  it  was  in  violation  of  the  letter  and 
intent  of  his  will  and  in  defeasance  of  the  object  which 
he  had  at  heart.  The  question  went  up  to  the  Supreme 
Court  by  petition  of  the  trustees  for  leave  to  sell  and 
was  decided  in  their  favor.  But  because  of  the  oppo- 
sition thus  manifested,  or  for  some  other  reason,  no 
sale  was  effected  and  the  purpose  seemed  to  be  aban- 
doned. 


Plymouth  Church  - 

1S75 

j 


CHURCHES 


45 


The  founder  of  this  important  charity  began  his  life 
in  Worcester  as  a workman  for  daily  wages.  At  the 
close  of  his  life  he  left  an  estate  of  more  than  half  a 
million  of  dollars  accumulated  by  his  own  industry 
and  rare  sagacity.  The  bulk  of  this  great  wealth  he 
> devoted  to  the  good  of  his  fellow-men.  All  along  the 
j pathway  of  his  life  he  was  setting  up  monuments  of  his 
: munificence,  while  his  testamentary  gifts  for  school  and 

.j  church  and  hospital  far  exceeded  those  of  his  life-time 
ij  or  those  of  any  previous  benefactor  of  the  city. 

! On  the  first  Sunday  in  November  1889,  the  member- 
i|  ship  of  this  church  was  185. 


j Plymouth  Church. — The  beginning  of  this  church 
was  in  1869.  More  than  twenty  years  had  passed 
since  the  last  church  of  this  faith  and  order  had  been 
organized.  In  that  time  the  city  had  grown  from  six- 
teen thousand  to  forty  thousand  inhabitants.  The 
churches  were  crowded ; it  had  become  difiicult  to 
obtain  seats  ; some  even,  through  failure  to  do  so,  had 
gone  into  the  Methodist  fold.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, fifteen  young  men  met  together  in  a private 
room  to  confer  respecting  a new  church.  They  had 
acted  together  in  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associa- 
tion, had  thus  become  acquainted  with  each  other,  and 
said  it  would  be  a good  thing  if  they  could  have  a 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  church.  They 
formed  a nucleus  around  which  other  young  men 
gathered.  Soon  the  circle  of  interested  persons 
widened  and  came  to  include  older  men  and  men  of 
substance.  Then  the  enterprise  rapidly  gathered 
headway. 


Margmalia 


7 


46 


IVOI^CESTEI^ 


The  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  15th  of  April 
1869.  On  the  29th  it  was  announced  that  Mechanics 
Hall  had  been  secured  for  public  worship  during  one 
year.  Forthwith  a subscription  of  three  thousand 
three  hundred  and  forty  dollars  was  made  by  sixty- 
three  persons  to  defray  the  current  expenses ; and 
within  a week  or  two  the  sum  was  raised  to  about  three 
thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  A Sunday-school 
embracing  more  than  three  hundred  was  at  once 
begun,  and  on  the  second  Sunday  in  May  public 
worship  was  held  in  Mechanics  Hall  with  preaching  by 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  B.  Webb  of  Boston.  On  the  same  evening 
a meeting  was  held  to  take  measures  for  organizing  a 
church.  A committee  was  charged  with  the  duty  of 
preparing  and  presenting  a creed  and  covenant.  When 
the  time  came  for  action  thereon  difficulties  were 
encountered.  Among  others,  the  Rev.  George  Allen, 
who  had  proposed  to  become  a member  of  the  church, 
rose  and  gave  his  voice  against  the  adoption  of  any 
creed  whatever.  Failing  to  convince  the  meeting  he 
recalled  his  letter  of  recommendation  and  withdrew 
from  any  further  connection  with  the  enterprise.  At  a 
subsequent  meeting  the  articles  of  the  creed  as  reported 
were  largely  changed  and  then  adopted.  The  question 
of  a name  came  up.  Edward  A.  Goodnow,  the  largest 
giver,  and  many  others  were  in  favor  of  making  it  a 
free  church.  Mr.  Goodnow,  therefore,  moved  that  the 
name  be  the  “ Free  Congregational  Church,”  and  to 
make  it  free  he  subsequently  subscribed  one  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  a year  to  pay  for  the  hall.  His 
associates,  however,  were  not  yet  prepared  for  the 
measure,  and  instead  of  that  name  voted  that  the  name 
be  “ Sixth  Congregational  Church.”  Meanwhile,  a 


CHURCHES 


47 


society  had  been  organized  by  the  name  of  Plymouth 
Society,  and  the  church  afterwards  made  its  own  name 
conform  to  that. 

On  the  7th  of  July  a council  assembled  in  the  Old 
South  meeting-house  to  assist  in  organizing  and 
recognizing  the  new  church.  With  a recommendation 
to  amend  the  fourth  article  of  the  creed  they  preceded 
to  the  performance  of  their  functions.  Of  the  one 
hundred  and  ninety-four  persons  proposing  to  be  of 
the  church,  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  were  then 
present  and  were  duly  constituted  the  Sixth  Congrega- 
tional Church.  A week  later  fifty-one  of  the  remainder 
were  received  into  the  membership.  Four  deacons 
having  been  elected  and  a communion  and  baptismal 
service  having  been  presented  by  Mr.  Goodnow  and 
his  wife,  Catherine  B.  Goodnow,  on  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber the  church  celebrated  its  first  communion.  From 
that  time  onward  a great  variety  of  preachers  occupied 
the  pulpit  until  April  1870,  when  the  Rev.  Nelson 
Millard  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  received  a call  to  become 
the  pastor.  The  call  was  declined  on  the  ground  that 
continuous  preaching  in  so  large  a hall  would  cause  too 
serious  a strain  on  the  physical  powers  of  the  preacher. 
On  the  26th  of  October  a unanimous  call  was  declined 
by  the  Rev.  William  J.  Tucker,  now  the  distinguished 
professor  at  Andover,  perhaps  for  the  same  reason.  A 
practically  unanimous  call  of  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Hamilton 
met  with  the  same  fate.  Meanwhile  the  future  pastor 
of  Plymouth  Church,  the  Rev.  George  W.  Phillips,  of 
Columbus,  Ohio,  had  been  heard  in  its  pulpit  for  the 
first  time  at  Christmas  in  1870.  After  this  experience 
had  been  repeated  at  intervals  through  the  following 
year,  he  accepted  a call  and  was  installed  on  the  28th 


Marginalia 


48 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


of  December  1871.  A condition  of  his  acceptance  was 
that  the  society  should  build  a church  edifice.  Accord- 
ingly funds  and  a site  were  the  next  things  in  order. 

In  April  1872,  the  site  was  fixed  by  a vote  to  build 
on  the  ground  where  the  church  now  stands.  This 
action  split  church  and  parish  in  two.  The  soreness 
of  the  wound,  however,  was  soon  assuaged,  and  both 
halves  continued  to  live  as  two  wholes  with  a two-fold 
prosperity  and  usefulness.  Fifty-six  members  received 
a peaceable  dismission  and  straightway  with  others 
proceeded  to  organize  a church  in  the  more  southern 
part  of  the  city.  The  load  became  heavier  on  Plymouth 
Church,  but  the  sturdy  shoulders  under  it  did  not 
succumb.  On  the  26th  of  April  1873,  the  corner-stone 
was  laid;  on  the  19th  of  April  1874,  the  chapel  was 
dedicated  for  use;  and  on  the  29th  of  April  1875,  l^^e 
entire  edifice  was  done  and  dedicated.  It  is  a struct- 
ure of  granite,  with  perhaps  a larger  seating  capacity 
than  that  of  any  other  church  in  the  city,  having  seats 
for  the  comfortable  accommodation  of  fourteen  hun- 
dred persons.  Its  cost,  including  recent  decorative 
improvements,  has  somewhat  exceeded  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  In  1881  sixty-six  thousand 
dollars  of  this  cost  still  rested  as  a debt  upon  the 
Plymouth  property  and  people.  It  was  determined  to 
obtain  relief  from  the  incubus  by  effecting,  if  possible, 
a large  reduction  of  this  debt.  Suddenly,  in  the  month 
of  April,  Edward  Kimball  of  Chicago,  the  good  genius 
of  debt-burdened  churches,  appeared  before  the  con- 
gregation to  assist.  While  the  matter  was  thus  in 
hand,  Edward  A.  Goodnow  sent  in  a written  proposi- 
tion that  if  the  debt  were  not  merely  reduced  but 
extinguished  he  would  make  a gift  to  Plymouth  of  an 


CHURCHES 


49 


organ  and  a chime,  each  to  cost  five  thousand  dollars. 
Under  this  incentive,  coupled  with  Mr.  Kimball’s 
inspiration,  the  effort  was  redoubled,  the  debt  was 
extinguished,  and  chime  and  organ  were  put  in  place, 
at  a cost  to  the  giver  of  nearly  eleven  thousand  dollars. 
The  chime  was  made  a memorial  of  his  deceased  wife, 
for  whom  the  church  had  before  held  a special  com- 
memorative service,  by  the  inscription  on  the  principal 
bell  — In  Memoria7n  Catherine  B.  Good?iow. 

After  a successful  pastorate  of  more  than  fourteen 
years  Dr.  Phillips,  at  his  own  request,  was  dismissed 
on  the  loth  day  of  May  1886,  and  immediately  settled 
as  pastor  of  the  important  church  in  Rutland,  Vt.  On 
the  30th  of  June,  in  the  same  year,  Plymouth  Church 
and  Society  extended  a unanimous  call  to  the  Rev. 
Arthur  Little,  D.  D.,  of  Chicago.  The  call  was 
declined,  and  the  church  remained  without  a pastor 
until  April  7,  1887,  when  the  Rev.  Charles  Wadsworth, 
Jr.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  installed.  In  May  of  the 
next  year  he  resigned  his  office  on  the  ground  that  he 
had  accepted  a call  to  a Presbyterian  Church  in  San 
Francisco.  The  church  was  quite  unreconciled  to  this 
sudden  bereavement,  but  yielded  to  it  under  protest. 
However,  the  council  called  to  dissolve  the  tie  advised 
against  it.  This  led  to  a reconsideration  which  resulted 
in  a cordial  re-establishment  of  the  old  relation.  As 
the  year  1888  wore  on,  however,  the  church  was 
admonished  by  the  failing  health  of  its  reinstated 
pastor  that  if  it  would  keep  him  something  must  be 
done  for  his  relief.  Accordingly,  in  January  1889, 
the  parish  voted  to  have,  and  provide  for,  a pastor’s 
assistant.  In  this  matter  the  Ladies’  Benevolent 
Society  had  taken  the  initiative  by  assuming  an 


50 


WORCESTER 


obligation  to  pay  one-half  of  whatever  salary  the 
parish  should  fix  upon.  Of  the  new  office  thus  created, 
the  Rev.  Edward  G.  Fullerton  of  Philadelphia,  became 
the  incumbent  by  ordination  as  an  evangelist  on  the 
13th  of  June  1889.  Mr.  Fullerton  was  a graduate  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  the  class  of  1883 
and  of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1889.  By  j 
way  of  further  relief,  the  pastor’s  annual  vacation  was 
doubled  and  a large  addition  made  to  his  salary.  In 
making  these  anxious  and  liberal  provisions  Plymouth 
Church  felt  justified  by  the  magnitude  of  the  work 
upon  its  hands.  With  the  costliest  church  edifice  of 
its  order  in  the  city,  save  the  Old  South,  and  th''  I 
largest  church  membership  and  no  church  debt,  and 
constituency  “ rich  and  increased  in  goods,”  it  was  in 
a position  both  to  devise  and  to  execute  liberal  thing 
After  less  than  a year  of  service  under  these  allevi 
ticns,  Mr.  Wadsworth  found  the  burden  on  I 
shoulders  still  too  heavy  for  his  strength,  and  accord-  ■ 
ingly  on  the  27th  of  October  he  again  tendered  his  ^ 
resignation.  An  offer  of  still  further  relief  proved  of  \ 
no  avail  to  change  his  purpose.  On  the  first  Sunday 
in  November  he  preached  his  last  sermon,  and  withir 
a few  days  after  a council  declared  his  connection  with 
Plymouth  Church  dissolved.  At  that  date  the  mem- 
bership of  this  church  was  just  700. 


Piedmont  Congregational  Church.  — In  th» 
sketch  of  Plymouth  Church  it  was  stated  that  fifty-si: 
members  of  that  body  were  dismissed  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a church  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city. 
This  was  the  origin  of  Piedmont  Church.  The  first 


CHURCHES 


51 


steps  were  taken  at  an  informal  meeting  held  on  the 
3d  of  May  1872.  On  the  loth  of  the  same  month  it 
was  resolved  to  organize  a parish  and  purchase  a lot  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Piedmont  Streets.  On  the 
1 6th  the  lot  had  been  purchased  and  fifty-nine  persons 
had  signed  an  agreement  to  become  a religious  society. 
On  the  23d  the  associates  assembled  under  a warrant 
and  organized  the  society  according  to  law.  On  the 
30th  the  name  of  “ Piedmont  Congregational  Church  ” 
was  adopted.  The  corporate  name,  however,  continued 
to  be  the  “ Seventh  Congregational  Church  in  Worces- 
ter.” On  the  6th  of  June  by-laws  were  adopted  whereby 
“ any  person  ” proposed  and  elected  by  the  major  vote 
might  become  a member  of  the  society.  On  the  14th 
the  first  subscription  was  made  among  those  present 
at  the  meeting,  and  a sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
was  pledged.  Plans  were  adopted  August  23d,  and 
by  September  20th  the  subscription  had  increased  to 
twenty-four  thousand  dollars.  Meantime,  on  the  2d  of 
June,  the  first  public  religious  service  had  been  held  in 
the  Main  Street  Baptist  Church.  In  the  same  place  a 
council  was  organized,  on  the  i8th  of  September 
following,  for  the  purpose  of  constituting  the  church. 
The  confession  of  faith,  the  covenant  and  all  prelimin- 
aries being  found  satisfactory,  the  church  was  duly 
constituted  by  the  council.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  George  H.  Gould,  D.  D.,  who  remained  as 
acting  pastor  from  that  date  until  1877. 

In  October  ground  was  broken  for  the  church 
foundation,  which,  by  contract,  was  to  be  finished  by 
the  ist  of  June  1873.  In  due  time  the  basement  was 
completed  and  occupied  for  public  worship  during  the 
period  in  which  the  superstructure  was  being  finished. 


52 


WORCESTEI^ 


On  the  ist  of  February  1877,  the  auditorium  was  ready 
for  occupation.  It  has  a seating  capacity  of  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty.  The  building  is 
one  of  the  largest  church  edifices  in  the  city,  and 
through  improvements,  chiefly  of  a decorative  character 
made  in  1888  at  a cost  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive.  The  original  cost  of  land  and 
construction  has  been  set  at  one  hundred  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  A fine  organ,  the  gift  of  Clinton  M. 
Dyer  and  wife,  was  placed  in  the  organ-loft  in  1884,  at 
a cost,  including  a complete  apparatus  for  blowing  it 
by  water-power,  of  about  six  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars. 

With  the  completion  of  the  building  came  the  first 
and  only  pastor.  Rev.  David  O.  Hears,  D.  D.,  who 
was  installed  on  the  3d  of  July  1877.  Under  his 
ministry  church  and  parish  kept  pace  with  the  most 
progressive.  His  reputation  went  abroad  beyond 
Worcester,  so  that  several  doors  were  opened  to  him 
elsewhere.  In  1885  he  was  invited  to  take  the  presi- 
dency of  Iowa  College.  This,  after  careful  considera- 
tion, he  declined,  as  he  did  also  the  pastorates  of 
several  important  churches  to  which  he  had  been 
invited.  The  membership  of  this  church  in  October 
1889  was  656. 


Pilgrim  Congregational  Church. — The  origin 
of  this  church  was  in  marked  contrast  with  that  of  the 
Plymouth  and  Piedmont  Churches.  While  they  sprang 
into  existence  as  it  were  full-grown  and  displayed 
masculine  vigor  from  the  first.  Pilgrim  Church  had  a 
childhood.  It  was,  in  a sense,  the  child  of  the  City 


CHURCHES 


53 


Missionary  Society.  That  society  explored  the  ground 
and  prepared  the  way  and  supplied  the  first  preaching. 
Because  of  that  society  it  came  to  exist  when  and 
where  it  did.  It  first  became  visible  in  the  form  of  a 
diminutive  Sunday-school,  at  No.  6 Hancock  Street, 
on  the  13th  of  May  1883.  Mrs.  Fannie  M.  Bond,  a 
visitor  of  the  Society,  had  gathered  a little  flock,  and 
Mrs.  Fannie  H.  Mighill,  whose  warm  co-operation  had 
been  secured,  opened  her  doors  for  its  reception.  At 
this  first  meeting  exactly  ten  scholars  were  present,  of 
whom  five  had  never  before  been  in  a Sunday-school. 
By  the  8th  of  July  the  ten  had  become  a crowd  and 
Woodland  street  school-house  was  secured  for  its 
accommodation.  In  five  years  it  had  grown  to  nearly 
six  hundred  members.  The  first  sermon  in  behalf  of 
the  new  enterprise  was  preached  by  Rev.  Albert  Bryant 
as  the  organ  of  the  Missionary  Society,  on  the  loth  of 
February  1884.  By  him  and  others,  pastors  and  lay- 
men, preaching  was  continued  until  the  following 
autumn.  On  the  ist  of  July  1884,  land  for  the  site  of 
a church  was  given  by  Mr.  Frank  B.  Knowles  of 
Piedmont  Church  and  Mrs.  Helen  C.  Knowles  of 
Union  Church.  The  same  persons,  with  others,  con- 
tributed money  for  the  building  of  a chapel  which  was 
finished  and  occupied  on  the  25th  of  January  1885. 
When  completed  it  was  the  first  of  six  houses  of 
worship  now  (1888)  standing  between  Piedmont  Street 
and  New  Worcester. 

On  the  i6th  of  November  1884,  the  Rev.  Charles  M. 

Southgate  began  pastoral  work.  He  was  a graduate 

of  Yale  in  the  class  of  1866,  and  came  to  Worcester 

from  a pastorate  of  nine  years  with  the  Congregational 

Church  in  Dedham.  Under  the  fresh  impulse  imparted 

8 


Marginalia 


54 


WORCESTEJ^ 


by  him  the  enterprise  went  rapidly  forward  in  the  way 
of  its  enlargement  and  consummation.  On  the  19th  of 
March  1885,  the  church,  embracing  eighty-eight  mem- 
bers, was  organized,  and  at  the  same  time  the  pastor 
was  installed.  On  the  19th  of  August  1887,  ground 
was  broken  for  the  new  church  edifice,  and  on  the  ist 
of  July  1888,  it  was  dedicated.  It  stands  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Gardner  streets,  is  one  of  the  most 
attractive  churches  in  the  city,  and,  with  the  other 
property,  is  valued  at  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand 
dollars.  The  auditorium  has  more  than  one  thousand 
and  fifty  sittings,  while  the  rooms  devoted  to  the 
Sunday-school  accommodate  more  than  six  hundred 
persons.  The  society  connected  with  this  church  was 
incorporated  on  the  13th  of  April  1885.  The  by-laws 
provide  that  all  male  adult  members  of  the  church 
shall,  and  “ any  ” adult  members  may,  become  members 
of  the  society. 

Three  things  distinguish  this  from  other  congrega- 
tional churches,  and  probably  from  all  other  churches 
in  the  city.  The  first  is,  the  church  and  parish  status. 
By  requiring  adult  male  members  of  the  church  to 
become  members  of  the  parish  and  members  of  the 
parish  to  be  members  of  the  church,  it  was  designed, 
among  other  things,  to  make  antagonism  between  the 
two  bodies  impossible.  One  further  thing  seems  essen- 
tial to  the  complete  success  of  this  plan,  and  that  is,  to 
require  all  female,  as  well  as  male,  adult  members  of 
the  church  to  become  members  also  of  the  parish. 
Without  this,  antagonism,  however  improbable,  is 
nevertheless  possible.  The  second  distinguishing 
thing  is  the  unique  and  admirable  provision  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Sunday-school.  A spacious 


CHURCHES 


55 


primary  room,  parlor  and  ten  separate  class-rooms  have 
been  so  arranged  that  each  can  be  shut  off  from  the 
rest  during  the  study  of  the  lesson  and  then  all  thrown 
into  one  again  for  the  general  exercises.  The  third 
thing  is  the  provision  for  the  secular  side  of  this  church 
organization.  The  first  chapel  was  moved  to  one  side, 
named  Pilgrim  Hall,  and  fitted  up  with  rooms  for  a 
gymnasium,  carpenters’  shop,  boys’  reading  room, 
printing  office,  hall  for  social  purposes  and  a kitchen. 
In  this  Hall  the  healthful  secular  life  of  Pilgrim 
Church  goes  on  through  all  the  secular  days  of  the 
week.  The  membership  of  this  church  in  October 
1889  was  275. 


Church  of  the  Covenant. — This  church  is  an 
anomaly  of  Congregationalism.  At  present  it  is 
tripartite,  but  it  may  become  quadrupartite  and  indefin- 
itely more.  Under  one  church  organization  there  are 
thus  far  three  “ sections,”  each  in  a different  part  of 
the  city.  The  names  of  these  are,  the  Houghton  Street 
Section,  South  Worcester  Section  and  Lake  View 
Section.  Each  section  is  an  inchoate  church,  having 
some,  but  not  all  the  powers  of  a Congregational 
church.  The  peculiar  organization  grew  out  of  the 
needs  of  the  chapel  congregations  in  charge  of  the  City 
Missionary  Society.  Upon  the  incorporation  of  this 
Society  in  1883,  the  congregations  at  South  Worcester 
and  Lake  View  came  under  its  care.  On  the  19th  of 
October  1884,  it  organized  a Sunday-school  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Houghton  Street,  and  on  the  15th  of 
October  1885,  dedicated  the  Houghton  Street  Chapel. 
In  the  chapel  a council  assembled  on  the  loth  of 


56 


WORCESTER 


December  following  to  organize  the  church.  At  an 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  council  held  in  the  vestry  of 
Plymouth  Church,  on  the  2 2d  of  December,  the  busi- 
ness in  hand  was  completed  by  the  public  recognition 
of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant.  In  January  1886, 
there  were  forty  communicants  in  all  the  sections,  of 
whom  more  than  one  half  were  in  the  Houghton  Street 
Section. 

Due  provision  was  made  for  the  practical  working 
of  this  anomalous  church.  It  was  placed  under  the 
“ pastoral  care  ” of  the  City  Missionary  Society,  with 
the  city  missionary.  Rev.  Albert  Bryant,  for  its  pastor. 
Each  section  was  to  manage  its  own  sectional  affairs. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  was  to  be  the  pastor  of  the 
section  and  preside  at  all  its  meetings.  He  was  to 
perform  all  pastoral,  pulpit  and  sacramental  duties  for 
each  separately.  There  was  to  be  a secretary  of  the 
section  and  a clerk  of  the  church,  the  former  of  whom 
was  to  transmit  his  record  of  sectional  doings  to  the 
latter  for  permanent  record.  Each  section  was  to  elect 
one  deacon  or  more,  and  the  sectional  deacons  were 
collectively  to  be  the  deacons  of  the  church.  Any 
section  might  admit  and  dismiss  members  of  its  own 
body,  but  the  duty  of  issuing  letters  of  dismission  and 
recommendation  was  laid  upon  the  clerk.  The  disci- 
pline of  its  own  members  was  placed  exclusively  in  the 
hands  of  the  section,  as  though  it  were  an  independent 
church.  Matters  of  interest  common  to  all  the  sections 
were  referred  to  a general  advisory  board.  This  was 
to  consist  of  the  pastor,  standing  committees  of  the 
sections  and  two  representatives  of  the  City  Missionary 
Society  chosen  annually.  By  this  board  the  clerk  of 
the  church  was  to  be  annually  elected.  If  the  church 


CHURCHES 


57 


was  to  be  represented  in  any  ecclesiastical  body,  each 
section  was  to  take  its  turn  in  appointing  the  repre- 
sentative. Finally,  the  whole  church  and  each  section 
were  to  hold  separate  annual  meetings.  The  title  to 
all  the  property  was  vested  in  the  City  Missionary 
Society.  After  a trial  of  several  years  the  working  of 
the  plan  fully  met  the  expectation  of  its  authors.  In 
November  1889  the  membership  had  increased  to  no, 
nearly  half  of  which  still  belonged  to  the  Houghton 
Street  Section. 

As  the  spring  of  1889  wore  on,  however,  the  fair 
prospects  of  this  Church  of  the  Covenant  and  of  its 
foster-parent,  the  City  Missionary  Society,  began  to 
cloud  over.  A serious  disagreement  among  the 
responsible  parties  touching  methods  resulted  in  paral- 
ysis. Contributions  received  a check,  the  treasury 
became  empty,  a debt  accumulated.  Because  of  this 
state  of  things,  on  the  6th  of  May  Mr.  Bryant  tendered 
his  resignation  as  superintendent  and  ex-officio  pastor  ; 
and  on  the  23d  it  was  accepted  by  the  Society,  which 
at  the  same  time  set  the  stamp  of  its  approval  upon  his 
work.  The  Church  of  the  Covenant  being  thus  left 
without  a pastor,  its  three  sections  severally  voted  to 
ask  for  a separation  with  a view  to  independent  church 
organizations.  On  the  26th  of  October  the  Society 
voted  to  accede  to  their  request  for  separation.  Early 
in  November  a council  was  called  to  dispose  of  the 
matter  according  to  usage,  and  as  the  result  of  its 
doings  the  Church  of  the  Covenant  as  first  organized 
came  to  an  end.  Of  what  became  of  its  several 
sections  some  account  will  be  given  further  on. 


S8 


WORCESTER 


The  beginning  of  the  Houghton  Street  Section  of 
the  Church  of  the  Covenant  was  in  October  19,  1883, 
when  a Sunday-school  was  gathered  in  the  house  of 
J.  P.  Streeter  on  Grafton  street.  This  was  done 
through  the  agency  of  Miss  Fanny  C.  Mason  and 
under  the  auspices  of  the  City  Missionary  Society.  In 
1884-5  ^ commodious  chapel  was  built  on  Houghton 
Street  near  the  corner  of  Grafton  at  a cost  of  about 
$1500,  including  the  furniture,  organ  and  other 
appliances.  The  land,  costing  $900,  was  an  additional 
expense.  Here  a congregation  averaging  100  was 
served  in  the  gospel  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Bryant  until 
the  formation  of  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  December 
22,  1885,  when  twenty-three  members  of  this  mission 
became  the  Houghton  Street  Section  of  that  church. 
Under  this  new  relation  it  continued  to  have  the  pastoral 
care  of  Mr.  Bryant  until  June  1889,  when  his  connec- 
tion terminated.  In  view  of  the  dissolution  of  the 
Church  of  the  Covenant,  this  Section  took  the  necess- 
ary steps  towards  becoming  a complete  congregational 
church  ; and  at  this  writing  (November  1889)  there 
was  every  prospect  of  a speedy  consummation  of  that 
result  and  of  a continuance  of  the  old  name.  Church 
OF  THE  Covenant,  for  this  new  organization.  At  this 
date  the  membership  was  53. 


Park  Congregational  Church. — This  church  was 
the  offspring  of  the  Worcester  City  Missionary  Society. 
After  careful  consultation  it  was  held  to  be  desirable 
to  plant  another  church  far  over  on  the  “ west  side.” 
To  this  end  and  as  a first  step,  a Sunday-school  was 
opened  in  Agricultural  Hall  with  Mr.  Lucius  P. 


CHURCHES 


59 


Goddard  as  its  first  superintendent.  Before  that,  a 
small  school,  chiefly  of  colored  children,  had  been 
gathered  on  Abbott  Street  in  the  winter  of  1884,  by 
Laura  A.  Giddings,  a visitor  of  the  Society;  and  of 
this  a part  was  subsequently  merged  in  the  Park 
Sunday-school.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  a 
careful  exploration  of  the  ground  was  made  by  Rev. 
Albert  Bryant,  the  superintendent  of  the  Society.  On 
the  3d  of  May  1885,  the  first  sermon  was  preached  in 
Agricultural  Hall  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Lovering, 
pastor  of  the  Old  South.  On  the  12th  of  the  following 
October,  the  Congregational  pastors  of  the  city  united 
with  a General  Committee  in  advising  the  establish- 
ment of  a church.  To  this  end  the  work  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a committee  consisting  of  the  Rev.  A.  E. 
P.  Perkins,  D.  D.,  and  Deacons  Henry  Chase  and  D.  B. 
Goddard.  Through  their  efficient  labors  such  progress 
was  made  that  in  the  summer  of  1886  a commodious 
chapel  had  been  erected  and  on  the  26th  of  September 
following  it  was  dedicated.  The  land  for  the  site,  on 
the  corner  of  Elm  and  Russell  streets,  was  the  gift 
of  David  Whitcomb.  Including  this,  the  whole  cost  was 
about  nine  thousand  dollars.  The  title  of  the  property 
is  in  the  City  Missionary  Society.  On  the  24th  of 
February  1887,  the  church  was  constituted  with  seventy 
members  and  at  the  same  time  the  Rev.  George  S. 
Pelton,  formerly  of  Omaha,  was  installed  as  its  first 
pastor. 

At  first  a society  was  organized  on  the  Pilgrim 
Church  plan  ; but  after  nearly  one  year  of  church  life 
passed  in  this  way  Park  Church  took  advantage  of  the 
general  law  for  the  incorporation  of  churches  enacted 
in  1887,  and  on  the  17th  of  January  1888,  took  on 


6o 


WORCESTEJ^ 


corporate  powers  and  became  itself  a parish.  Both 
men  and  women  were  named  among  the  corporators, 
and  both  were  made  responsible  for  the  “ government 
of  the  body  ” so  far  as  they  were  “ legal  voters.”  The 
aim  was  to  make  impossible  the  old-time  antagonism  of 
church  and  parish.  This  the  schem’e  assured.  But 
just  as  under  the  old  Congregational  way,  so  now, 
there  still  remained  two  bodies  in  Park  Church  — a 
spiritual  body  independent  of  law  and  an  artificial 
body  subject  to  law. 

On  the  ist  of  April  1889  the  pastoral  relation  of  Mr. 
Pelton  to  Park  Church  was  dissolved.  Thenceforward 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  different  preachers  until  the 
2 2d  of  October,  when  a unanimous  and  hearty  call  was 
given  to  the  Rev.  Edward  G.  Fullerton,  the  assistant 
pastor  of  Plymouth  Church.  The  issue  of  this  call 
had  not  been  determined  when  this  was  written.  The 
membership  of  the  church  in  October  was  about  97. 


South  Worcester  Union  Church. — In  June  1856, 
Anson  Bangs  began  a Sunday-school  in  the  old  school 
house  on  Cambridge  Street  with  seventeen  members. 
He  remained  its  superintendent  for  eighteen  years, 
during  which  period  the  average  attendance  was  about 
one  hundred.  Mr.  Bangs  gave  to  this  enterprise  not 
only  time  and  service,  but  money  from  his  own 
resources  to  the  amount  of  nearly  $1000.  Besides  this 
school  he  was  also  a pioneer  in  several  other  schools 
which  ultimately  became  the  germs  of  organized 
churches.  After  him,  Samuel  A.  Pratt,  Henry  Brannon 
and  Dr.  Charles  W.  Harwood  became  successively 
superintendents  until  1881,  when  the  City  Missionary 


CHURCHES 


6i 


Society  sent  Miss  Fanny  C.  Mason  to  assist.  Occa- 
sional preaching  followed,  and  by  and  by  regular 
preaching  became  the  rule.  In  1882,  a chapel  was 
built  on  land  purchased  for  the  purpose  at  the  corner 
of  Southbridge  and  Princeton  streets  ; in  December  it 
was  dedicated  free  from  debt.  The  subscriptions  for 
this  purpose,  128  in  number  and  $2,153.65  in  amount, 
were  all  obtained  by  Mr.  Brannon,  who  was  himself 
much  the  largest  subscriber,  Samuel  E.  Hildreth  and 
F.  B.  Knowles  only  excepted.  The  deed  of  this 
property  was  made  to  Union,  Piedmont,  Salem  and 
Plymouth  churches  jointly,  in  trust  “ to  hold  until  such 
time  as  a church  should  be  formed  strong  enough  to 
hold  and  manage  its  own  property.” 

In  this  new  building  the  work  of  the  Union  Sunday- 
school  went  forward  with  Francis  Heywood  for  its 
superintendent,  and  with  preaching  first  by  Rev.  E. 
D.  Bailey  and  then  by  Rev.  Albert  Bryant  until  Decem- 
ber 1885,  when  the  mission  became  a section  of  the 
Church  of  the  Covenant  with  eleven  members.  This 
connection  was  continued  until  the  dissolution  of  the 
Church  of  the  Covenant  in  November  1889,  when  it 
had  voted  to  become  a separate  congregational  church 
under  the  name  at  the  head  of  this  article.  Mr. 
Walther,  a student  from  Brown  University,  had  been 
employed  to  preach  and  labor  among  them  during,  the 
season  preceding;  and  so  efficient  had  been  his 
leadership  that  upon  the  organization  of  the  church  its 
membership  had  increased  to  39,  while  the  congrega- 
tion had  altogether  outgrown  the  narrow  bounds  of  its 
chapel.  At  the  close  of  1889  the  prospect  was  that 
this  vigorous  young  church  would  speedily  become 

“ strong  enough  to  hold  and  manage  its  own  property.” 

9 


Marginalia 


62 


WORCESTER 


Lake  View. — This  was  one  of  the  three  “ Sections  ” 
composing  the  Church  of  the  Covenant.  In  April 
1879,  ^ Sunday-school  was  opened  in  the  school-house 
at  the  Lake  by  the  Rev.  W.  T.  Sleeper.  Of  this  school 
Henry  Page  was  the  first  superintendent.  Soon  a 
religious  society  of  thirty  members,  including  ten  legal 
voters,  was  organized  under  the  statute,  with  a board  of 
seven  trustees.  To  this  board  Mr.  J.  J.  Coburn  con- 
veyed a lot  of  land  containing  about  15000  feet  for  the 
site  of  a chapel.  Funds  for  the  building  of  this  chapel 
were  collected  by  Mr.  Sleeper;  in  the  course  of  1880 
it  was  erected,  and  on  the  30th  of  January  1881,  was 
dedicated  with  a sermon  on  the  occasion  by  Rev. 
George  H.  Gould,  D.  D.  From  a statement  by  Mr. 
Sleeper  it  appeared  that  it  had  cost  about  $2500 
exclusive  of  the  land. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Church  of  the  Cove- 
nant with  forty  members,  the  number  from  the  Lake 
View  Section  was  only  six.  This  number  slowly 
increased  until  in  October  1889  it  amounted  to  eighteen, 
including,  however,  only  two  male  members.  On  the 
first  of  September  in  that  year,  it  was  placed  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Kelsey  the  pastor’s  assist- 
ant in  the  Union  Church. 

Like  the  other  Sections,  Lake  View  voted  unani- 
mously for  a separation ; but  whether  it  should  remain  a 
mission  church  because  of  its  limited  membership,  and 
especially  male  membership,  or  be  organized  into  a 
congregational  church  in  full  fellowship  with  the  other 
churches,  was  left  to  be  determined  by  the  council 
called  to  act  in  the  matter.  At  the  date  of  this  writing 
the  council  had  not  been  convened. 


I 


CHURCHES 


63 


Belmont  Church. — In  April  1889  some  brethren 
residing  in  the  neighborhood  east  of  Lincoln  Square 
began  to  work  in  earnest  for  the  establishment  of  a 
new  church  in  that  quarter.  On  the  14th  of  the  same 
month  the  first  session  of  Belmont  Sunday-school  was 
held  in  a room  at  No.  3 Summer  Street,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  John  A.  Sherman.  At  this 
meeting  twenty-eight  persons  were  present.  On  the 
evening  of  June  2d,  the  first  preaching  service  was 
.eld  at  the  same  place  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Bryant,  who 
d resigned  his  office  as  superintendent  of  the  City 
Missionary  Society  and  was  now  in  charge  of  this  new 
mterprise.  On  the  15th  of  July  a lot  on  the  corner  of 
Belmont  and  Hanover  Streets  was  purchased  for  $6000 
?.nd  work  was  at  once  begun  for  the  construction,  of  a 
ffiurch  thereon.  It  was  planned  for  the  seating  of  five 
lundred  persons.  Two  towers  in  front,  one  of  which 
3 seventy  feet  high,  mark  the  character  of  the  build- 
ag.  A vestry,  kitchen  and  other  rooms  were  provided 
.‘or  in  the  basement.  At  the  date  of  this  writing  it  was 
expected  that  the  building  would  be  completed  and  the 
church  organized  before  the  close  of  the  year.^ 


Marginalia 


Presbyterians. 

In  the  year  1718  about  one  hundred  families  of 
Scotch  descent  and  Presbyterian  principles  emigrated 
to  this  country  from  the  north  of  Ireland.  Landing  at 
Boston,  they  dispersed  to  various  points  in  Massachu- 

’ The  picture  of  Belmont  Church  is  that  of  the  14th  and  latest 
■ngregational  church  edifice  erected  and  now  standing  in  the 
. It  is  noteworthy  that  the  buildings  of  the  oldest  and  young- 
congregational  churches  were  completed  in  the  same  year, 

9* 


64 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


setts  and  New  Hampshire.  A part  came  to  Worcester 
and  in  the  next  year  gathered  a church  after  the  Pres- 
byterian way.  A minister,  Rev.  Edward  Fitzgerald, 
accompanied  them  and  preached  to  them  for  some 
months.  Their  place  of  worship  was  at  first  in  the 
garrison-house,  then  recently  built,  near  the  junction 
of  the  Boston  and  Lancaster  roads.  Very  soon  they 
began  to  build  a house  of  worship  for  themselves ; but 
while  it  was  in  the  process  of  erection  “ a body  of  the 
inhabitants  assembled  by  night  and  demolished  the 
structure.”  Discouraged  by  this  unwarrantable  opposi- 
tion, they  made  no  further  attempt  to  build  a sanctuary. 
But  the  church  continued  to  hold  on  its  way  for  some 
years.  For  awhile  they  worshipped  with  the  Congre- 
gational church,  nearly  equalling  that  body  in  numbers  ; 
but,  failing  in  this  way  to  secure  any  preaching  of  their 
own  kind,  they  withdrew  and  again  became  separate 
with  the  Rev.  William  Johnson  as  their  minister. 
While  supporting  him,  however,  they  were  also  compelled 
by  law  to  contribute  their  share  to  the  support  of  the 
church  of  the  “standing  order.”  From  this  burden 
they,  in  1736,  asked  but  failed  to  be  relieved.  In  the 
end,  by  successive  removals  and  otherwise,  this  first 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Worcester  gradually  vanished 
out  of  existence,  and  for  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  no  further  attempt  was  made  in  that  direction. 
Conspicuous  among  this  early  company  of  Scotch 
Presbyterians  was  William  Caldwell,  who  very  soon 
went  from  Worcester  with  his  family  and  became  the 
founder  of  the  town  of  Barre.  He  lived  to  be  one 
hundred  years  old,  lacking  one  year.  His  grandson, 
William  Caldwell,  became  the  sheriff  of  Worcester 
County — “the  model  sheriff,”  as  Governor  Lincoln 


First  Unitarian  Church 


»l 


\ 


CHURCHES 


65 


Lyled  him.  An  ancestor  of  General  George  B. 
McClellan  was  also  among  these  early  Presbyterians  of 
Vorcester. 


Marginalia 


After  the  long  interval  already  mentioned  a second 
hesbyterian  church  was  constituted.  The  first  meet- 
.ig  for  this  purpose  was  held  on  the  21st  of  February 
886,  and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  April  following  public 
/orship  was  inaugurated.  The  church  was  formally 
•rganized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Boston  on  the  first 
iunday  in  September  1886,  with  forty-eight  members 
ind  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Ralston  as  acting  pastor.  In  April 
887  he  was  regularly  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church, 
dr.  Ralston  was  a graduate  of  Alleghany  Seminary, 
fterwards  was  in  Kansas  for  seven  years  as  a home 
issionary,  and  was  called  to  Worcester  from  that 
tant  field  of  labor.  The  place  of  worship  for  this 
rch  is  a hall  in  the  building  of  the  Young  Men’s 
ristian  Association.  In  October  1889  the  member- 
p was  about  135. 


Unitarian  Congregationalists. 

First  Unitarian  Church. — For  about  three- 
uarters  of  a century  one  church  and  one  parish 
ifficed  for  the  inhabitants  of  Worcester.  Then  the 
^ oacond  Parish  in  the  town  of  Worcester”  was  organ- 
ed.  That  was  and  still  remains  its  corporate  name, 
though  the  organization  is  commonly  knotvn  as  the 
irst  Unitarian  Church.  The  genesis  of  the  new  body 
rme  about  on  this  wise  : The  Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty,  after 
long  and  peaceful  ministry  with  the  First  Church, 


66 


WOI^CESTER 


had  grown  old,  fallen  sick  and  become  unable  to 
preach.  A young  man  about  thirty  years  old,  Mr.  Aaron 
Bancroft,  was  found  to  take  his  place  in  the  pulpit. 
After  he  had  preached  for  eight  Sundays,  Mr.  Maccarty 
had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  resume  his  pulpit, 
and  Mr.  Bancroft  went  away.  In  the  next  year  the 
aged  minister  died  and  Mr.  Bancroft  was  again  called 
in.  This  time  his  preaching  caused  commotion. 
Differences  of  opinion  sprang  up  ; the  parish  became 
divided,  the  peace  of  the  town  was  disturbed  and  social 
intercourse  interrupted.  A second  time  Mr.  Bancroft 
went  away.  Then  the  town  — not  the  church  — 
improved  the  opportunity  to  vote  in  town-meeting 
“ that  there  be  a day  set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer 
in  this  town  for  calling  on  the  Divine  assistance  for 
the  re-establishment  of  the  gospel  ministry  in  this 
place.” 

The  town  adjourned  its  meeting  for  one  week,  and 
then,  four  days  before  the  one  appointed  for  the  fast, 
voted  to  have  “ Mr.  Haven  ” preach  four  Sundays  and 
after  him  Mr.  Bancroft  four.  This  arrangement 
brought  Mr.  Bancroft’s  first  Sunday  on  the  loth  of 
January  1785.  The  date  is  significant.  Three  days 
later,  without  waiting  to  hear  him  on  the  remaining 
three  Sundays,  his  admirers  to  the  number  of  fifty-four 
signed  and  presented  a petition  for  the  town  — not  the 
church  — to  take  action  looking  towards  his  settlement 
as  Mr.  Maccarty’s  successor.  In  the  town-meeting 
held  in  response  to  this  petition  on  the  ist  of  March, 
they  moved  this  remarkable  proposition : “ That  the 
town  agree  to  settle  Mr.  Bancroft  in  the  work  of  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  such  other  person  as  may  be 
agreeable  to  and  chosen  solely  by  those  who  are 


CHURCHES 


67 


i 


desirous  of  hearing  further,  and  the  settlement  and 
salaries  of  both  to  be  at  the  expense  of  the  Town  at 
large.”  The  record  says  that  “ there  was  some 
debate,”  after  which  “ it  passed  in  the  negative.” 
Defeated  on  this  point,  the  petitioners  then  moved  for 
leave  to  form  a religious  society  over  which  Mr.  Ban- 
croft might  be  settled.  This,  too,  passed  in  the 
negative.  They  then  proceeded  to  take  what  the  town 
had  refused,  with  all  its  financial  consequences.  A 
voluntary  association  was  formed,  a covenant  adopted 
and  a church  organized.  Of  the  sixty-seven  associates, 
only  two  men  and  four  women  had  been  communicants. 
But  these,  even,  not  having  been  dismissed  from  any 
other  church  for  the  purpose,  were  not  competent, 
according  to  usage,  to  form  the  new  one.  A novel 
expedient  was  devised  to  meet  this  novel  situation.  A 
public  “ lecture  ” was  appointed,  at  which  the  covenant 
was  read  and  explained  and  then  signed  by  all  who 
chose  to.^  In  this  way  the  church  connected  with  the 
Second  Parish  was  constituted. 

Public  worship  began  on  the  third  Sunday  of  March 
in  the  court-house,  with  preaching  by  Mr.  Bancroft. 
On  the  7th  of  June  he  consented  to  become  the  minis- 
ter of  the  new  society,  and  on  the  ist  day  of  February 
1786,  he  was  ordained.  Only  two  ministers  of  the 
vicinage  could  be  found  to  assist,  the  rest  coming  from 
Boston,  Salem  and  Cambridge.  After  much  difficulty 


1 Although  this  original  covenant  has  never  been  changed  nor 
abrogated,  yet,  writes  the  present  minister,  “ it  has  dropped  out 
of  use  entirely.  I cannot  learn  that  it  has  ever  been  used  in  the 
memory  of  those  now  living.  There  are  no  conditions  to 
membership  in  the  church,  except  sympathy  with  our  aims,  and 
we  have  no  regular  form  of  admission.”  See  Appendix  B. 


68 


WORCESTE.R 


Marginalia 


and  delay,  the  new  parish  was  duly  incorporated  on 
the  13th  of  November  1787.  It  was  a poll  and  not  a 
territorial  parish,  and  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in 
Massachusetts  outside  of  Boston. 

Here  some  notice  may  fitly  be  taken  of  what  seems 
not  to  have  arrested  the  attention  of  any  previous 
writer.  By  the  ancient  law  of  Massachusetts  the 
method  of  choosing  and  settling  a minister  was  after 
this  manner  : the  church  first  made  choice  ; then  the 
parish  {i.  e.  town)  concurred  or  non-concurred.  Unless 
there  had  been  church  action  there  was  no  place  for 
parish  action.  This  law,  originating  in  1692,  continued 
down  through  the  last  century  and  was  in  force  when 
the  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth  was  adopted. 
That  instrument  contained  two  provisions  bearing  on 
the  matter  in  hand : first,  parishes  were  given  the 
exclusive  right  of  electing  their  public  teachers ; and 
second,  all  the  laws  theretofore  in  force  were  declared 
to  “ remain  and  be  in  full  force  until  altered  or  repealed 
by  the  legislature  ; such  parts  only  excepted  as  are 
repugnant  to  the  rights  and  liberties  contained  in  this 
Constitution.”  Now,  on  the  one  hand,  the  law  of  1692 
giving  to  the  church  first  and  the  parish  afterwards  the 
right  of  election  never  was  repealed  ; but,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  law  was  repugnant  to  the  “ exclusive  right  ” of 
election  given  to  parishes.  And  this  appears  to  have 
been  the  legal  status  at  the  date  of  Mr.  Bancroft’s 
candidacy  in  1785.  The  right  of  the  church  to  any 
voice  in  the  election  of  its  minister  had  been  simply 
annihilated.  Whether  this  was  known  and  fully 
understood  at  that  time  may  well  be  doubted.  Never- 
theless, the  business  about  Mr.  Bancroft  went  forward 
precisely  as  though  it  was  understood.  The  first  and 


CHURCHES 


69 


only  resort  was  to  the  parish.  The  parish  alone  took 
action ; the  church  took  none.  So  far  as  its  records 
show,  Mr.  Bancroft  was  not  a candidate  before  that 
body.  His  name,  even,  does  not  appear  on  its  records. 
The  scheme  to  make  him  the  minister  of  the  First 
Parish  manifestly  originated  outside  the  church  and 
was  carried  on  outside.  And  however  much  it  tur- 
moiled  the  town,  it  neither  rent  nor  hardly  ruffled  the 
church.  This  view  is  supported  by  the  fact,  already 
stated,  that  only  six  communicants  were  found  in  the 
new  movement.  After  the  Bancroft  party  had  with- 
drawn the  First  Church  and  Parish  resumed  their 
ancient  relations  and  proceeded  to  elect  Mr.  Story  as 
their  minister  by  the  rule  of  1692  ; the  church  choosing 
and  the  parish  concurring.  The  same  course  was 
pursued  in  the  subsequent  election  of  Dr.  Austin.  And 
this  would  seem  to  show  that  the  procedure  in  Mr. 
Bancroft’s  case  was  accidental  and  exceptional,  and 
not  in  the  way  of  using  the  new  power  conferred  on 
parishes  by  the  new  Constitution. 

A house  of  worship  for  the  Second  Parish  was  the 

next  essential  thing.  With  much  self-denial  on  the 

part  of  both  parish  and  pastor — the  latter  relinquishing 

one-third  of  his  salary — a building  was  erected,  and  on 

the  ist  day  of  January  1792,  was  dedicated.  The 

modest  edifice,  shorn  of  its  bell-tower  and  converted 

into  a school-house,  still  stands  on  the  spot  where  it 

was  first  placed,  at  the  north  end  of  Summer  Street. 

Once  installed  in  its  pulpit,  Dr.  Bancroft  for  many 

years  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  making  many 

friends  and  no  enemies,  and  by  his  virtues  and  writings 

building  up  a great  and  solid  reputation.  After  forty- 

one  years  a colleague  was  provided,  and  on  the  28th 

10 


Marginalia 


70 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


of  March  1827,  the  Rev.  Alonzo  Hill  was  ordained  to 
that  office.  In  1829  the  old  meeting-house  was  deserted 
for  a new  and  more  spacious  one  built  of  brick  on  the 
site  occupied  by  the  present  edifice. 

On  the  19th  of  August  1839,  Dr.  Bancroft  departed 
this  life  at  the  age  of  nearly  eighty-four.  He  began 
his  preaching  in  Worcester  as  an  avowed  Arminian. 
He  was  also  from  the  first,  as  he  said,  an  Arian,  but 
not  an  avowed  one.  At  first  he  forebore  to  preach  the 
Arian  or  Unitarian  doctrine  “because,”  in  his  own 
words,  “the  people  were  not  able  to  bear  it.”  When, 
thirty-six  years  after,  he  preached  a course  of  contro- 
versial sermons  in  advocacy  of  that  doctrine,  he  found 
they  were  able  to  bear  it,  as  they  evinced  by  asking  for 
their  publication.  Curiously  enough,  one  of  these  old 
sermons,  on  the  “ Annihilation  of  the  Incorrigibly 
Wicked,”  places  the  Unitarian  divine  squarely  by  the 
side  of  the  late  rector  of  orthodox  “All  Saints.”  ^ The 
volume  called  forth  a high  encomium  from  President 
John  Adams.  “ Your  twenty-nine  sermons,”  he  wrote, 
“ have  expressed  the  result  of  all  my  reading,  experi- 
ence and  reflections  in  a manner  more  satisfactory  to 
me  than  I could  have  done  in  the  best  days  of  my 
strength.”  Besides  this  volume  and  the  best  “ Life  of 
Washington  ” in  the  day  of  it.  Dr.  Bancroft  was  the 
author  of  thirty-four  other  publications,  chiefly  sermons. 
In  the  “ Worcester  Pulpit  ” his  character  was  drawn  by 
the  author  of  that  work,  with  fit  expansions  and  illustra- 
tions, as  that  of  a benevolent,  candid,  brave,  discreet, 
much-enduring  and  conscientious  minister  and  man. 

1 Compare  Dr.  Bancroft’s  twenty-seventh  sermon  with  Dr. 
Huntington’s  “ Conditional  Immortality,”  published  more  than 
half  a century  after. 


CHURCHES 


71 

His  face,  which  art  has  made  familiar  in  many  places, 
has  all  the  attractions  of  the  ideal  saintly  pastor. 

On  the  death  of  Dr.  Bancroft,  his  colleague.  Dr. 
Hill,  became  sole  pastor,  and  so  remained  for  more 
' than  thirty-one  years.  On  the  29th  of  August  1849, 
the  church  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Three  days  after 
the  society  began  to  build  anew,  and  on  the  26th  of 
March  1851,  dedicated  the  present  church  edifice. 
While  the  body  of  the  building  is  in  the  plain  rectangu- 
lar style  of  that  day,  the  spire  is  a model  of  architectural 
beauty.  In  the  pulpit  of  this  church  Dr.  Hill  com- 
pleted his  ministry  of  more  than  forty-three  years.  At 
the  end  of  forty  years  from  his  ordination  he  preached 
a historical  discourse,  wherein  may  be  found  much 
interesting  information  touching  the  Second  Parish 
and  his  own  ministry.  His  death  occurred  February 
I,  1871.  Dr.  Hill  was  a man  of  rare  benignity;  his 
face  was  a benediction.  As  a colleague  he  lived  in 
entire  harmony  with  his  senior,  and  as  sole  pastor  he 
perpetuated  all  amiable  traditions.  For  nearly  a | 
century  the  Second  Parish  flourished  under  the  two  ! 
pastorates  in  an  atmosphere  of  peace  diffused  by  the  ^ 
personal  influence  of  the  two  pastors.  ! 

The  third  minister  of  the  parish  was  the  Rev.  Edward  ' 
Henry  Hall.  He  had  been  installed  as  the  colleague  ^ 
of  Dr.  Hill  on  the  loth  of  February  1869,  succeeded  ! 
as  sole  pastor  at  the  decease  of  the  latter  in  1871.  Mr. 
Hall  closed  his  ministry  of  thirteen  years  to  accept  the 
charge  of  the  Unitarian  Church  in  Cambridge.  He  ■ 
had  so  endeared  himself  to  his  parishioners  that  with  | 
unfeigned  regret  they  yielded  to  the  separation.  He 
had  continued  and  re-enforced  the  traditional  amenities  | 
of  the  Second  Parish  ministry.  He  had  approved  I 


Marginalia 


72 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


himself  “ a scholar,  and  a ripe  and  good  one.”  As  a 
thinker  he  had  pushed  his  way  among  the  deep  prob- 
lems of  thought  beyond  what  was  commonly  known 
of  him.  In  the  literature  of  art  he  was  so  much  at 
home  that  many  outside,  as  well  as  within  his  own 
parish,  gladly  came  for  instruction  to  the  art  lectures 
which  he  gave  on  several  occasions.  A broad  and  fine 
culture,  coupled  with  a liberal  faith,  appeared  to 
express  the  ideal  towards  which  he  continually  aspired. 
And  so  his  transfer  to  the  university  town  was  a fit 
recognition  of  his  aspirations  and  growth  in  that 
direction. 

A vacancy  of  about  three  years  was  terminated  by 
the  installation  of  the  Rev.  Austin  Samuel  Garver, 
on  the  nth  of  March  in  the  year  1885.  He  was  a 
native  of  Scotland,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  at 
Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  and  at  Andover 
Theological  Seminary.  His  first  settlement  was  at 
Hingham  in  1872,  and  his  next  at  Hopedale ; at  the 
same  time  he  supplied  preaching  at  Greenwood.  From 
this  ministry  he  was  called  to  the  pulpit  of  the  Second 
Parish  in  Worcester. 


Church  of  the  Unity. — Sixty  years  after  the 
formation  of  the  First  Unitarian  Church  proceedings 
for  a second  were  initiated.  At  the  close  of  service  in 
the  afternoon  of  June  23,  1844,  some  persons,  at  the 
request  of  eleven  members  of  the  Second  Parish, 
tarried  to  hold  a conference  on  the  subject.  In 
August  a committee  reported  in  favor  of  a new  Unita- 
rian society.  On  the  25th  of  that  month  a meeting 
was  held  at  which  it  was  voted  “ to  procure  funds  to 


CHURCHES 


73 


pay  for  preaching,  to  hire  a preacher,  and  to  procure  a 
place  in  which  to  hold  religious  worship,  also  to  procure 
subscriptions  of  funds  to  build  a church.”  Forthwith 
subscriptions  were  opened,  a building  fund  inaugurated, 
the  present  lot  on  Elm  Street  purchased,  and  early  in 
the  spring  of  1845  erection  of  a church  edifice 
begun.  On  the  26th  of  January  in  the  same  year  the 
first  religious  service  was  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
James  Thompson,  of  Barre,  in  a hall  over  the  Claren- 
don Harris  book-store.  On  the  27th  of  November, 
after  the  necessary  preliminaries,  the  “ Second  Unita- 
rian Society  in  Worcester  ” became  a body  corporate 
under  that  name  and  style.  The  number  of  corporators 
was  forty-one,  among  whom  were  Pliny  Merrick  and 
Benjamin  F.  Thomas,  afterwards  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts.  On  the  7th  of 
February  1846,  the  parish  adopted  the  following,  which 
is  its  only  by-law  : “Any  person  signing  his  name  to 
a certificate  in  a book  kept  by  the  clerk  for  that  pur- 
pose, signifying  his  intention  to  do  so,  shall  thereby 
become  a member  of  this  parish.”  At  the  same 
meeting,  by  regular  action  on  an  article  which  had 
been  put  into  the  warrant,  the  parish  voted  that  its 
name  should  be  the  “ Church  of  the  Unity.”  But  it 
does  not  appear  that  anything  was  ever  done  to  legalize 
this  change  of  name. 

On  the  loth  of  February  1846,  the  Rev.  Edward 
Everett  Hale  was  unanimously  invited  to  become  the 
minister  of  the  parish.  On  the  25th  of  April  occurred 
the  dedication  of  the  church,  and  on  the  26th  the 
installation  of  the  minister.  The  dedicatory  sermon  — 
a remarkable  one  — was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Orville 
Dewey,  D.  D.,  and  that  of  the  installation  by  the  Rev. 


Marginalia 


74 


WORCESTER 


Samuel  Lothrop,  D.  D.  No  church  was  ever  formed 
in  connection  with  this  parish,  no  creed  or  covenant 
ever  adopted,  no  deacons  elected.  But,  in  semblance 
of  church  order,  on  the  25th  of  May  1846,  the  parish, 
at  a meeting  duly  warned,  adopted  these  resolutions  : 
“ That  a committee  be  directed  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  administration  of  the  ordinances 
of  religion  : That  this  church  has  united  for  all  means 
and  purposes  of  Christian  fellowship  : Therefore,  that 
an  invitation  be  given  to  all  persons  present  to  partake 
with  us  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.”  This  action  marked 
the  striking  departure  from  the  First  Unitarian  Church 
which  from  the  beginning  had  a church  organization 
with  a covenant,  diaconate  and  solemn  admission  to 
membership.  The  ministry  of  Dr.  Hale  continued  for 
ten  years.  He  then,  June  30,  1856,  resigned  his  office, 
not  because  of  any  dissatisfaction,  but  because  he  had 
received  a call  to  Boston  where  he  would  have  leisure 
for  study  which  the  constant  draft  for  sermon-writing 
in  Worcester  would  not  allow.  His  parishioners  were 
dismayed  at  this  threatened  calamity  and  earnestly 
sought,  but  were  unable  to  avert  it.  The  brillliant 
career  of  Dr.  Hale  since  he  sundered  this  tie  is  known 
to  all  the  world. 

Nine  months  went  by  before  action  was  taken  to 
provide  his  successor.  On  the  19th  of  April  1857,  from 
among  several  who  had  been  nominated  in  the  parish 
meeting,  the  parish  by  a major  vote  invited  the  Rev. 
George  M.  Bartol  of  Lancaster  to  accept  the  vacant 
place.  Mr.  Bartol  declined  the  call  and  the  parish 
went  on  without  a minister  for  a year  and  eight  months 
longer,  when,  December  22,  1858,  the  Rev.  Rush  R. 
Shippen  was  installed.  In  July  1871,  Mr.  Shippen 


CHURCHES 


75 


resigned  to  take  office  as  secretary  of  the  American 
Unitarian  Association.  In  a printed  discourse  Mr. 
Shippen  said : “ We  observe  the  Communion  as  a 

Memorial  Service  only.”  Under  his  ministry,  in  1865, 
the  church  edifice  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of 
forty-six  pews  at  a cost  of  five  thousand  dollars. 

After  nearly  two  years  Rev.  Henry  Blanchard  was 
installed  on  the  4th  of  May  1873.  Mr.  Blanchard 
came  into  the  parish  from  among  the  Universalists, 
and  when  he  left  returned  into  that  fold.  But  while 
with  the  Church  of  the  Unity,  he  sought,  in  a printed 
letter  addressed  to  his  parishioners,  to  define  more 
exactly  their  dogmatic  position  by  this  utterance : 
“ We  stand  for  liberty  of  thought  and  Christianity. 
We  define  this  latter,  in  the  words  of  Noah  Webster, 
to  be  ‘ the  system  of  precepts  and  doctrines  taught  by 
Jesus  Christ.’  We  learn  these  from  the  words  of  the 
teacher  as  they  are  taught  in  the  New  Testament.” 
Mr.  Blanchard’s  resignation  was  dated  March  4,  1880, 
and  was  accepted  to  take  effect  on  the  ist  of  April 
following.  The  Rev.  Roland  A.  Wood,  by  birth  an 
Englishman,  was  installed  as  his  successor  on  the  ist 
of  June,  1881.  On  the  14th  of  September  1884,  he 
resigned  his  office,  and  on  the  ist  of  January  1885, 
the  resignation  took  effect.  A year  elapsed  before 
another  minister  was  settled,  and  during  this  inter- 
val extensive  improvements  were  made  upon  the 
church  edifice  by  the  construction  of  parish  rooms 
and  a general  application  of  decorative  art.  The  cost 
of  this  outlay  was  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  In  this 
renovated  and  attractive  edifice  the  Rev.  Calvin  Steb- 
bins  was  installed  as  the  fifth  minister  of  the  Church 
of  the  Unity  in  January  1886.  Mr.  Stebbins  was 


Marginalia 


76 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


born  at  South  Wilbraham  (now  Hampden)  in  1837  ; 
graduated  at  Amherst  in  1862  and  at  the  Divinity 
School  in  Cambridge  in  1863,  his  first  settle- 

ment in  Lebanon,  N.  H. 


South  Unitarian  Society. — In  the  winter  of  1888, 
Arthur  J.  Marble,  seeing  that  the  city  had  greatly 
increased  in  population  while  the  Unitarians  had 
remained  stationary,  made  the  first  move  for  a third 
society  of  that  order.  He  laid  his  views  before  the 
two  Unitarian  ministers  of  the  city,  both  of  whom 
approved  and  offered  their  services  in  preaching  for  a 
year  without  compensation.  Presently,  Mrs.  Theodore 
Brown  became  interested  in  the  scheme  and  rendered 
very  efficient  service.  The  first  religious  service  was. 
held  in  Freeland  street  school-house  on  the  28th  of 
October  1888.  A congregation  of  about  one  hundred 
was  made  up  equally  of  persons  from  the  old  societies 
and  residents  in  the  neighbourhood.  From  that  time 
a preaching  service  was  continued  every  Sunday  except 
during  the  summer  vacation.  Early  in  the  summer  of 
1889  the  place  of  worship  was  transferred  to  Pilgrim 
Hall,  which  was  rented  for  the  purpose  by  the  Pilgrim 
Church.  This  change  was  followed  by  a very  manifest 
growth.  In  the  spring  of  1889,  a temporary  society 
was  organized  by  the  election  of  a parish  committee  of 
five,  a clerk  and  a treasurer.  At  the  outset,  the  sum 
of  $13.  was  paid  in  to  meet  expenses.  The  same  sum 
remains  in  the  treasury  today,  as  the  society  has  been 
by  other  ways  self-supporting.  As  the  proceeds  of  a 
fair  inaugurated  by  the  Unitarian  societies,  the  sum  of 
$2000  was  deposited  in  bank  to  be  held  against  the 


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CHURCHES 


79 


time  when  the  purchase  of  a lot  for  the  building  of  a 
church  should  be  deemed  expedient.  Committees 
were  also  appointed  to  solicit  further  aid.  The  27th 
of  October  1889  was  observed  as  the  anniversary  of 
the  enterprise,  when  the  pastors  and  singers  of  the  old 
societies  were  present  assisting,  and  great  hopefulness 
touching  the  future  prevailed.  Eventually,  it  is  expected 
that  the  society  will  become  incorporate  under  the  law. 


Marginalia 


Baptists. 

First  Baptist  Church. — James  Wilson  was  the 
founder  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  Worcester. 
He  was  a layman  who  came  here  from  England  bringing 
his  Baptist  principles  with  him.  On  his  arrival  he 
found  no  one  in  Worcester  like  minded  with  himself, 
save  two  old  persons  and  Dr.  John  Green,  who  soon 
disappeared,  leaving  him  alone.  Trinitarian  Congre- 
gationalism and  Unitarian  Congregationalism  were  in 
complete  possession  of  the  ground,  with  two  doughty 
doctors  of  divinity  to  maintain  it  against  all  comers. 
But  Mr.  Wilson  was  neither  dismayed,  nor  converted, 
nor  driven  away.  He  had  a great  staying  quality,  and 
because  of  it  the  Baptist  idea  at  last  took  root  and 
flourished.  From  1795,  the  year  of  his  coming,  until 
the  constitution  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  in  1812, 
he  kept  the  faith,  occasionally  had  meetings  for 
religious  worship  in  his  dwelling-house,  and  did  what 
he  could  to  nourish  the  seed  he  had  planted.  In  time 
an  association  was  formed,  occasional  preaching  was 
had  and  the  Centre  school-house  was  rented  for 

Sunday  service.  “ Opposition  applied  the  spice.”  On 

11 


8o 


JVOI^CESTER 


the  28th  of  September  1812,  the  Rev.  William  Bentley 
was  employed  on  a salary ; on  the  9th  of  December 
“ the  Baptist  Church  in  Worcester  ” was  constituted. 
It  was  composed  of  twenty-eight  members  equally 
divided  between  the  sexes.  The  first  pastor  was 
installed  on  the  same  day.  Mr.  Wilson  became  one  of 
the  deacons,  and  probably  the  first.  He  had  long 
before  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen,  so  that  in  1801  he  had  been  made  the 
postmaster  of  Worcester ; and  he  so  continued  until 
his  removal  to  Ohio,  in  1833.  creed  of  the  church 

is  given  at  length  in  Lincoln’s  “ History.” 

In  the  year  1813  the  first  meeting-house  was  begun 
and  on  the  23d  of  December  was  dedicated.  It  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  building.  Mr.  Bentley 
remained  in  charge  until  the  31st  of  June  1813,  wLen 
he  asked  and  obtained  a dismission.  On  the  3d  of 
November,  in  the  same  year,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Going 
accepted  a call  to  the  vacant  pulpit.  He  remained  till 
January  1832,  when,  at  his  own  request,  he  too  was 
dismissed.  The  reason  which  he  assigned  for  this 
step  was,  “ that  he  might  devote  himself  to  the  interests 
of  home  missions,  especially  in  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi.”  He  had  visited  the  West  the  year  before, 
and  had  come  back  greatly  pressed  in  spirit  to  go  to 
its  help.  Dr.  Going  was  a remarkable  man.  He  had 
been  educated  beyond  many  of  his  Baptist  brethren, 
while  his  natural  powers  were  of  a superior  order.  In 
advance  of  his  contemporaries  he  had  a vision  of  the 
wonderful  future  of  the  great  Western  valley,  and 
determined  to  do  his  part  in  giving  it  a set  towards  the 
right.  Without  loss  of  time  the  Rev.  Frederic  A. 
^^fillard  stepped  into  the  pulpit  left  vacant  by  Dr. 


CHURCHES 


8i 


Going.  He  was  a graduate  of  Amherst  in  the  class  of 
1826.  The  year  before  coming  to  Worcester  he  had 
received  and  declined  an  appointment  to  the  professor- 
ship of  chemistry  in  Waterville  College.  Having 
remained  with  the  Worcester  church  till  July  30,  1835, 
he  then  resigned,  to  become  at  a later  day  the  pastor 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Newton.  He  was 
succeeded,  on  the  27th  of  October,  by  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Aldrich,  who,  after  seeing  the  church  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  two  hundred  and  eighteen  members, 
took  his  dismission  in  May  1838. 

In  April  of  the  following  year  the  Rev.  Samuel  B. 
Swaim  became  the  pastor,  and  so  remained  for  more 
than  fifteen  years.  He  was  a graduate  of  Brown 
University  in  the  class  of  1830 ; in  1835 
accepted  a professorship  of  theology  in  Granville 
College  which  the  poverty  of  the  college  did  not 
allow  him  to  retain.  His  ministry  was  one  of  great 
power.  Under  it  the  church  “ attained  its  highest 
numerical,  social  and  financial  condition.”  His  death, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  was  felt  to  be  nothing  less 
than  a calamity.  In  1855  the  Rev.  J.  D.  E.  Jones 
became  the  next  pastor.  After  holding  his  office 
during  four  years  he  resigned  it  in  1859  to  become 
superintendent  of  public  schools.  He  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Moss  on  the  14th  of  August  i860. 
Remaining  until  the  25th  of  July  1864,  he  then  resigned 
his  pulpit.  Dr.  Moss  subsequently  became  president 
of  Indiana  State  University.  On  the  first  Sabbath  in 
April  1865,  the  Rev.  H.  K.  Pervear  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  the  next  pastor  of  this  church.  On  the  last 
day  of  the  year  1872  his  pastorate  came  to  an  end,  and 
on  the  ist  day  of  April  1873  the  Rev.  B.  D.  Marshall 


82 


WOJ^CESTEJ^ 


Marginalia 


began  his  labors  as  the  ninth  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church.  After  a service  of  fourteen  years,  Dr.  Mar- 
shall resigned  his  office  on  the  last  Sunday  in  March 

1887.  His  successor,  the  Rev.  George  G.  Craft,  was 
inducted  into  office  in  January  1888. 

The  present  church  was  erected  in  the  time  of  Mr. 
Aldrich  on  the  site  of  the  original  building  which  had 
been  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  a larger  and  finer 
building  than  the  first,  and  from  time  to  time  under- 
went important  improvements,  the  last  of  which,  in 

1888,  involved  an  expenditure  of  nine  thousand  dollars. 
In  October  1889  the  membership  of  the  church  was  499. 


Second  Baptist  Church. — This  was  a colony  from 
the  First  Church.  It  was  constituted  on  the  28th  day 
of  December  1841  with  ninety-eight  members,  of  whom 
eighty-nine  were  from  the  parent  church.  In  one  year 
one  hundred  more  were  added.  The  first  preacher 
was  the  Rev.  John  Jennings,  and  the  first  place  of 
worship  was  the  Town  Hall,  where  religious  services 
continued  to  be  held  till  the  close  of  1843.  On  the 
4th  of  January  1844  the  new  house  of  worship  on 
Pleasant  Street  was  dedicated.  No  society  was  organ- 
ized ; the  business  of  the  body  was  transacted  by  the 
church  which  was  the  owner  of  the  property.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Jennings  had  become  the  pastor  early  in 
1842,  and  he  resigned  his  charge  on  the  27th  of 
November  1849,  nearly  eight  years  of  successful 

service.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Charles  K. 
Colver,  who  accepted  a call  to  the  pastorate  on  the 
14th  of  April  1850.  After  four  years  of  service  failure 
of  health  obliged  him  to  resign  his  place.  The  next 


CHURCHES 


83 


I 

! 

i 

s\ 


f 

i 


pastor  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Faunce,  who  entered 
upon  his  duties  on  the  ist  of  September  1854.  He 
retained  his  office  until  i860,  when  he  tendered  his 
resignation,  to  take  effect  on  the  30th  of  April. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  year  1856,  the  house  of  worship 
had  been  repaired  and  remodeled  “ at  a large  expense.” 
The  front  was  rebuilt  because  of  the  change  in  the 
street  grade ; the  style  of  architecture  was  altered  and 
a tower  added. 

On  the  nth  of  June  i860  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Tucker 
accepted  a call  to  the  pastorate,  but  after  a service  of 
fifteen  months  felt  compelled,  by  the  force  of  circum- 
stances, to  resign  his  place  on  the  30th  of  September 
1861.  For  nearly  a year  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor;  then  it  was  fortunate  in  securing  the  services 
of  the  Rev.  David  Weston.  Having  accepted  a call 
some  weeks  before,  he  was  duly  ordained  in  August 
1862  as  the  fifth  pastor  of  the  Pleasant  Street  Church. 
Dr.  Weston  fulfilled  his  office  with  great  satisfaction  to 
the  people  of  his  charge  for  more  than  eight  years, 
and  then,  on  the  25th  of  November  1870,  laid  it  down 
“to  engage  in  another  sphere  of  labor.”  The  church, 
in  a series  of  tender  resolutions,  bore  its  testimony  to 
him  as  “ a ripe  scholar,  skillful  sermonizer  and  sound 
theologian.” 


Two  ministers  in  succession  were  now  called,  but 
both  declined  the  call.  On  the  7th  of  June  1872,  the 
Rev.  I.  R.  Wheelock  received  a call,  accepted  it  on  the 
loth  of  July,  and  was  ordained  on  the  ist  of  August. 
After  nearly  three  years  his  resignation  was  accepted 
on  the  28th  of  March  1875.  He  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  Sullivan  S.  Holman,  who  was  installed  on  the 
loth  of  June  in  the  same  year.  Having  accepted  a 


I 


Marginalia 


84 


WORCESTEJ^ 


call  to  another  field  of  labor,  Mr.  Holman  offered  hi:, 
resignation,  which  was  accepted  on  the  loth  of  Marcl 
1882  “with  feelings  of  sorrow.”  Six  months  after, 
the  Rev.  J.  S.  James  of  Allentown,  Pa.,  received  anc 
declined  a call.  On  the  7th  of  December  following 
Rev.  Henry  F.  Lane  accepted  a unanimous  call,  anc 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  January  1883  entered  upon  hi: 
new  ministry.  On  the  ist  day  of  March  1888  hi: 
term  of  service  was  terminated  by  the  joint  action  o 
pastor  and  people,  after  five  years  of  uninterruptec 
harmony.  On  the  27th  of  June  the  Rev.  H.  J.  Whit( 
accepted  a call  which  had  been  given  on  the  6th  o 
that  month.  Mr.  White  was  educated  at  Bates  College 
in  Lewiston,  Me.,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1877 1 
Previous  to  coming  to  Worcester  he  had  settlements  ii  I 
Biddeford,  Bath  and  Augusta  in  that  state.  , 

A thorough  revision  of  the  roll  left  264  as  the 
membership  of  this  church  in  October  1889. 


Main  Street  Baptist  Church. — This  was  : 
second  colony  from  the  First  Baptist  Church.  In  Jund 
1852  a petition  by  Eli  Thayer  and  fifteen  others  wa; 
presented  to  that  church,  expressing  a desire  to  forn: 
a third  Baptist  Church.  They  declared  their  readinesi! 
to  begin  at  once,  and  dutifully  asked  for  the  suppori| 
and  approval  of  the  mother  church.  The  materna 
sanction  was  promptly  and  cordially  granted;  the  Cit J', 
Hall  was  at  once  engaged,  and  there,  in  July,  the  Re\ 
Dr.  Sharp  of  Boston  preached  the  first  sermon  for  th- 
new  colony.  Public  worship  was  maintained  in  th 
same  place  until  November,  when  the  place  of  meetin,. 
was  transferred  to  Brinley  Hall.  There  a Sunda} 


\ 


r 


CHURCHES 


8S 


school  was  organized,  and  there  preaching  by  the  Rev. 


I 


l| 


S.  S.  Cutting  was  continued  through  the  winter.  In 
the  evening  of  February  26,  1853,  a parish  organization 
was  duly  perfected  under  the  name  of  the  “ Third 
Baptist  Society  in  Worcester.”  The  business  was  done 
in  the  law-office  of  Francis  Wayland,  Jr.,  under  a war- 
rant issued  by  Isaac  Davis.  On  Sunday,  the  next  day, 
a committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  Articles  of  Faith 
and  a Covenant  with  a view  to  a church  organization. 
On  the  6th  of  March  what  were  known  as  the  “ New 
Hampshire  Articles  of  Faith”  and  “ Covenant ” were 
adopted,  a clerk  was  chosen,  and  the  church  constituted 
with  thirty-three  members.  At  the  same  time  the  Rev. 
William  H.  F.  Hansel  was  chosen  to  be  the  pastor ; 
but  the  call  he  declined. 

On  the  1 8th  of  May  1853  the  society  voted  to  build 
a chapel  at  the  corner  of  Leicester  (now  Hermon)  and 
Main  streets.  On  the  23d  of  June  the  recognition  of 
the  new  church  took  place  with  a sermon  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Ide  of  Springfield.  In  the  course  of  the  year  the 
chapel  was  completed  at  a cost,  including  that  of  land 
and  furnishing,  of  $6461.17.  On  the  first  Sunday  in 
January  1854  it  was  occupied  for  the  first  time  for 
public  worship.  On  the  i8th  of  September  following 
Mr.  H.  L.  Wayland  was  unanimously  called  to  the 
pastorate.  In  accepting  the  call  he  relinqished  two 
hundred  dollars  of  the  moderate  salary  which  had 
been  voted  to  him,  as  a contribution  to  the  expenses  of 
the  society.  On  the  ist  of  November  occurred  his 
ordination,  President  Wayland  preaching  the  sermon. 
On  the  1 2th  of  February  1855  plans  for  a church 
edifice  were  adopted  and  a building  committee  was 
chosen.  Early  in  May  ground  was  broken ; in  the 


86 


WORCESTER 


course  of  the  year  the  house  was  finished,  and  on  the 
second  Sunday  in  January  1856  was  occupied  for 
public  worship.  The  whole  property,  including  church, 
chapel,  land  and  furnishing,  had  cost  $25,174.01. 

After  a highly  successful  ministry  of  seven  years  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Wayland  was  accepted,  with  much 
regret,  on  the  4th  of  October  1861.  A week  before  he 
had  left  his  home  to  enter  the  service  of  the  Republic 
as  chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Connecticut  Volunteers. 
For  twenty-eight  months  he  continued  in  that  service ; 
then  became  successively  a home  missionary  in  Ten- 
nessee, a teacher  in  two  Western  colleges,  an  editor  in 
Philadelphia.  On  the  first  Sunday  in  May  1862  his 
successor.  Rev.  Joseph  Banvard,  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  his  office.  On  the  15th  of  February  1864 
the  parish  voted  to  change  its  name,  and  take  the 
name  of  the  “ Main  Street  Baptist  Society,”  and  at  the 
same  time  took  means  to  obtain  the  legislative  sanction 
thereto.  Dr.  Banvard  having  resigned  after  a ministry 
of  nearly  four  years,  adhered  to  his  purpose  against 
the  earnest  wishes  of  the  church  expressed  in  its  vote 
of  March  9,  1866.  The  church  then  elected  as  his 
successor  the  Rev.  George  B.  Gow,  in  recognition  of 
whom  public  services  were  held  on  the  i8th  of  April 
1867. 

In  the  next  year  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce 
the  system  of  free  seats;  but  though  the  church 
adopted  a vote  affirming  it  to  be  “ unscriptural  and 
unchristian  to  rent  seats  ” and  offering  to  sustain  the 
society  in  abolishing  rentals,  the  latter  body  was  found 
to  be  not  then  prepared  for  the  innovation.  In  1872 
Mr.  Gow’s  resignation  was  accepted,  to  take  effect  on 
the  last  Sunday  in  October.  His  successor  was  the 


CHURCHES 


87 


Rev.  F.  W.  Bakeman,  who,  after  a pastorate  of  about 
three  years  and  three  months,  terminated  the  same  on 
the  ist  of  July  1876.  After  an  interval  of  sixteen 
months  the  Rev.  George  E.  Horr  became  the  fifth 
pastor  of  the  church.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  office  on  the  4th  of  November  1877,  with  services 
of  recognition  on  the  20th.  Before  the  close  of  this 
year  the  chapel  was  enlarged  and  improved  at  a cost  of 
$4829.40. 

On  the  2d  of  November  1879  the  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary of  the  ordination  of  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  Dr. 
H.  L.  Wayland,  was  appropriately  observed.  A dis- 
course full  of  interesting  reminiscences  was  delivered 
by  Dr.  Wayland  and  afterwards  printed  by  request. 
In  honor  of  him  it  was  voted,  about  this  time,  “ that 
the  bell  to  be  placed  on  the  tower  bear  the  inscription? 
Wayland  Memorials  By  a change  in  the  by-laws  on 
the  loth  of  February  1881,  no  person  was  thereafter 
to  be  admitted  to  membership  in  the  parish  who  was 
not  already  a member  of  the  church.  On  the  24th  of 
October  in  the  same  year  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Horr 
was  accepted ; and  on  the  3d  of  October  in  the  next 
year,  by  a vote  of  thirty-nine  to  three,  the  Rev.  Henry 
A.  Rogers  of  Montpelier,  Vt.,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate. 

In  1883  an  act  was  consummated  by  the  parish  that 

was,  perhaps,  without  precedent.  Acting  upon  the 

written  opinion  of  the  Hon.  Peter  C.  Bacon,  L L.  D., 

the  Nestor  of  the  Worcester  bar,  the  parish,  at  a 

meeting  held  on  the  24th  of  April  and  8th  of  May, 

under  a warrant  drawn  by  Mr.  Bacon,  transferred,  in 

the  way  of  gift,  its  meeting-house  and  all  its  other 

property,  real  and  personal,  to  the  deacons,  “for  the 

12 


Alarginalia 


88 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


use  of  the  church.”  In  the  warrant  was  an  article  “ to 
see  if  the  society  would  take  any  action  in  regard  to  ^ 
dissolving  the  society.”  No  formal  action  was  taken 
under  this  article.  After  provision  had  been  made  for 
transferring  the  property  it  was  “ voted  to  adjourn 
without  day.”  No  meeting  of  the  parish  was  ever 
held  after  that,  and  evidently  it  was  assumed  that  the  J 
parish  was  “ dissolved.”  But  to  all  appearance  the  Jj' 
“ Main  Street  Baptist  Society  ” still  lives  and  has  a ' 
name  to  live.  ] 

Mr.  Rogers  continued  his  ministry  with  the  Main 
Street  Church  until  1886,  when  a growing  disagree- 
ment between  him  and  certain  of  the  membership, 
and  also  within  the  membership  itself,  culminated 
in  the  summary  dismission  of  himself  and  fifty-six 
others  on  the  27th  of  October,  “for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a Baptist  church  in  the  south  part  of 
the  city.”  At  the  same  time  the  pastor  gave  in  his 
resignation  to  take  effect  on  the  31st.  On  the  next 
day  it  was  unanimously  accepted.  On  the  19th  of 
December  the  Main  Street  Church  proposed  a mutual 
council  to  the  “ South  Baptist  Church,”  but  the  overture 
was  declined.  On  the  31st  of  January  1887,  Professor 
C.  R.  Newton  was  employed  to  supply  the  pulpit  as 
acting  pastor.  This  continued  until  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember, when  the  Rev.  Charles  H.  Pendleton  was  duly 
installed. 

In  October  1889  the  membership  was  259. 


Dewey  Street  Baptist  Church. — As  in  many 
other  cases,  a Sunday-school  was  the  beginning  of  this 
church.  It  was  organized  in  the  Mason  Street  school- 


CHURCHES 


89 


house  on  the  first  Sunday  in  August  1867.  Mr.  L.  M. 
Sargent  and  other  laymen  from  the  First  Baptist  Church 
were  the  original  movers  in  the  enterprise.  For  several 
years  Joseph  H.  Walker,  now  member  of  Congress, 
was  its  superintendent.  Under  his  efficient  administra- 
tion the  school  prospered  so  greatly  that  more  ample 
accommodations  were  speedily  called  for.  This  led  to 
the  building  of  the  chapel  on  Dewey  Street.  The  lot 
on  which  it  was  erected  was  the  joint  gift  of  the  late 
Judge  Francis  H.  Dewey  and  Joseph  Mason,  Esq. 
Including  this  land,  valued  at  $750,  the  cost  of  the 
property  was  $4570.  Of  this  sum,  $1000  was  the  gift 
of  Mr.  Walker.  The  dedication  of  the  chapel  took 
place  on  the  8th  of  February  1872,  and  from  that  date 
it  was  occupied  for  the  Sunday-school  and  religious 
services.  The  church  was  organized  on  the  8th  of 
July  in  the  same  year  with  a membership  of  twenty- 
eight.  Its  first  pastor  was  Mr.  Sargent,  the  layman  to 
whose  zeal  and  efficiency  the  church  had  owed  its  origin. 
During  five  years  of  devoted  service  he  had  approved 
himself  in  that  and  other  ways  worthy  of  recognition 
as  one  among  the  clerical  brethren.  Accordingly,  on 
the  2d  of  May  1872,  he  was  called  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Dewey  Street  congregation.  This  was  two  months 
before  the  church  had  been  formed.  On  the  5th  of 
September  it  was  recognized  by  a council  convened 
in  the  chapel,  and  at  the  same  time  Mr.  Sargent  was 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  church.  His  ministry  was  brief.  On 
account  of  ill  health  he  resigned  on  the  2d  of  May 
1873.  At  the  close  of  his  term  of  service  the  mem- 
bership of  the  church  had  increased  to  forty-four 
persons.  The  next  pastor  was  the  Rev.  D.  F.  Lamson. 


90 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


Coming  on  the  ist  of  July  1873  and  remaining  nine 
and  a half  years,  he  left,  on  the  ist  of  January  1882,  a 
church  embracing  ninety-five  members.  His  successor. 
Rev.  B.  H.  Lane,  entered  on  his  office  on  the  ist  of 
June  1882,  and  vacated  it  on  the  15th  of  October  1884. 
On  the  19th  of  the  same  month  the  Rev.  D.  H. 
Stoddard  assumed  the  office.  He  was  graduated  from 
Brown  University  in  1864  and  from  Rochester  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  1867 ; and  was  first  settled  in  Athol 
and  afterwards  in  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  leaving  that 
church  about  August  i,  1869. 

Growing  congregations  and  consequent  prosperity 
soon  made  apparent  the  inadequacy  of  the  chapel  accom- 
modations. Mr.  Stoddard  therefore  took  in  hand  the 
business  of  building  a church  edifice ; and  the  Baptist 
City  Mission  Board,  seeing  the  importance  of  the  field 
and  its  manifest  needs,  cordially  co-operated  with  Mr. 
Stoddard  in  his  scheme  of  church-building.  With  the 
aid  of  $7000  from  this  source  more  land  was  bought 
and  a commodious  edifice,  with  “perfect  ventilation,” 
was  erected  at  a cost  of  $14,844.  The  value  of  the 
enlarged  lot  was  reckoned  at  $2000  additional.  On 
Thanksgiving  Day  in  1886  the  vestry  was  first  occupied, 
and  on  the  13th  of  January  1887  the  completed  build- 
ing was  dedicated.  The  property  is  held  by  trustees, 
there  being  no  parish  organization.  The  seats  are  free 
and  the  current  expenses  are  paid  by  weekly  contribu- 
tions. In  October  1889  the  membership  of  the  church 
was  160. 

Lincoln  Square  Baptist  Church. — This  church 
grew  from  very  feeble  beginnings.  Sunday  schools 
I had  been  begun  and  discontinued ; only  occasional 


CHURCHES 


91 


preaching  had  been  had.  Material  resources  were 
limited  and  lack  of  courage  prevailed.  Many  years 
elapsed  before  the  decisive  step  of  forming  a church 
was  taken.  There  came  a time,  at  last,  when  some  of 
the  waiting  ones  “ heajd  a call  from  God  to  go  forward,” 
and  on  the  4th  of  April  1881  the  church  was  organized. 
The  original  membership  consisted  of  thirty -one 
persons,  largely  from  the  Pleasant  Street  Church. 
Public  services  of  recognition  were  held  on  the  next 
day  in  accordance  with  the  vote  of  council.  Through 
the  summer  following,  preaching  was  supplied  by  the 
Rev.  D.  F.  Lamson,  of  the  Dewey  Street  Church.  In 
October  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Miller  entered  upon  his  work 
as  the  first  pastor.  Till  then  public  worship  had  been 
conducted  in  a hall ; but  the  new  pastor  made  it  his 
first  business  to  provide  a church  edifice.  To  his 
unwearied  endeavors  and  personal  influence  it  was 
owing  that  the  enterprise  was  successful.  In  May 
1882  a building-lot  on  Highland  Street  near  Lincoln 
Square  was  purchased,  and  a substantial  edifice  of 
brick  and  stone  of  excellent  architectural  design  was 
erected.  The  lower  part  of  the  house  was  occupied 
for  religious  services  on  the  8th  of  July  1883.  On  the 
loth  of  June  1884  the  dedication  of  the  complete 
building  took  place.  The  cost  of  land,  building  and 
furniture  was  about  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Of  this 
amount  Joseph  H.  Walker,  of  the  Main  Street  Baptist 
Church,  was  the  largest  contributor.  Gifts  also  were 
made  by  friends  outside  the  Baptist  fold.  “ The 
property  is  held  and  controlled  by  the  church  through 
its  appointed  officers.”  The  seats  are  free  and  current 
expenses  are  met  by  weekly  offerings.  In  October 
1889  the  membership  was  366. 


92 


WORCESTER 


South  Baptist  Church. — The  inception  of  this 
church  was  as  early  as  1883,  and  was  due  to  the  Rev. 
Henry  A.  Rogers,  then  recently  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  Main  Street  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Rogers  believed 
in  “missions,”  and  had  passed  much  of  his  life  in 
setting  them  on  foot.  Immediately  on  beginning  work 
in  Worcester  he  took  note  of  the  fact  that  the  whole 
section  lying  south  of  the  Main  Street  Church  was 
without  any  kind  of  Baptist  organization.  He  there- 
fore proposed  to  his  own  church  the  establishment  of  a 
mission  in  that  quarter.  The  proposal  met  with  little 
encouragement.  Then  he  began  a mission  at  his  own 
charge.  One  day  in  June  1883  he  was  casually  intro- 
duced to  a young  Frenchman  named  Isaac  B.  Le 
Claire.  This  man  had  led  an  abandoned  life,  had 
been  a Roman  Catholic,  and  not  very  long  before  had 
been  converted  to  the  Baptist  faith  and  was  now  living 
a sober  life.  A brief  interview  ended  in  his  being 
employed  by  Mr.  Rogers  as  a colporteur.  He  at  once 
went  to  work  holding  meetings  in  school-houses  and 
private  houses.  The  results  of  his  work  proved  him 
to  be  the  right  man  in  the  right  place ; and,  indeed,  his 
subsequent  career  in  a far  wider  field  showed  that  he 
had  a remarkable  fitness  for  his  work.  His  immediate 
success  in  South  Worcester  was  such  that  by  August 
the  Main  Street  Church  felt  constrained  to  assume  the 
charge  of  the  mission.  By  the  winter  of  1884  every 
available  place  of  meeting  had  become  so  crowded  that 
Le  Claire  was  moved  to  ask  for  the  building  of  a 
chapel ; his  request  was  promptly  heeded,  and  the 
chapel  at  Jamesville  was  the  result.  All  this  was 
preparatory  for  the  South  Church  scheme.  The  first 
suggestion  for  a chapel  on  the  site  which  it  afterwards 


CirURC/fES 


93 


occupied  was  made  in  January  1884  at  a prayer-meeting 
in  the  house  of  William  A.  Norton.  In  Kel)ruary  Mr. 
Rogers  urged  the  new  chapel  upon  his  people,  express- 
ing with  much  detail  the  reasons  for  the  enterprise. 
After  a time  the  Raptist  City  Mission  Hoard  became 
possessed,  as  not  before,  with  the  mission  idea  and 
adopted  a comprehensive  plan  for  the  city,  including 
the  South  Worcester  Mission.  On  the  i4th  of  September 

1886,  the  lioard  took  measures  to  secure  the  lot  already 
mentioned,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Gates  streets. 
On  the  ist  of  (.Ictober  the  Main  Street  Church,  at  a 
very  large  meeting  of  eighty-one  members,  unanimously 
voted  in  favor  of  the  South  Church  enterprise.  In 
view  of  this  action,  the  Hoard  on  the  19th  made  over  all 
claim  to  the  lot  in  favor  of  the  South  Church.  On  the 
2ist,  a large  number  of  the  Main  Street  Church  agreed 
together  to  ask  letters  of  dismission  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  the  South  Church.  On  the  27th,  at  a 
covenant  and  business  meeting  of  the  Main  Street 
Church  where  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons  were 
present,  of  whom  not  less  than  one  hundred  and 
twenty  were,  by  estimation,  of  the  membership,  fifty- 
seven  were  dismissed  by  a large  majority  vote,  iiut 
of  the  fifty-seven  only  forty  were  present  at  the  meet- 
ing. On  the  next  day,  October  28th,  the  fifty-seven 
members,  including  Mr.  Rogers,  assembled  in  the 
chapel  on  Canterbury  Street  and  were  constituted  a 
church  by  the  adoption  of  Articles  of  Faith  and  the 
election  of  deacons  and  clerk.  At  the  same  meeting 
was  consummated  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Rogers  as 
pastor  of  the  new  church.  On  the  27th  of  February 

1887,  the  church  was  publicly  recognized  by  a council 
duly  convened.  'I'he  baptist  Mission  Jioard,  having 


Marginalia 


94 


WOIk^CESTEJ^ 


acquired  possession  of  the  old  Dewey  Street  Chapel, 
conveyed  the  same  to  the  new  organization  and  it 
was  removed  to  the  lot  already  described ; and  there, 
fronting  Clark  University,  on  the  30th  of  December 
1887  became  the  church  home  of  the  South  baptist 
Church.  No  parish  was  organized,  but  the  deacons 
were  made  trustees  to  hold  the  property  for  the  use  of 
the  church,  after  the  method  advised  by  Mr.  bacon  in 
the  case  of  the  Main  Street  Church.  Land,  chapel 
and  other  property  cost  the  South  Church  $5000.  The 
membership  was  179  in  October  1889. 


Adams  Square  Church. — For  some  three  years 
the  baptist  City  Mission  board  maintained  a mission 
at  Adams  Square.  A chapel  had  been  erected  by  the 
board  at  a cost,  including  land,  of  $3500,  and  there 
religious  services  were  conducted  under  its  auspices. 
This  continued  until  October  3,  1889,  when  the 
“ Adams  Square  Church  ” was  duly  recognized  by  a 
council  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches  of 
the  city  and  vicinity.  At  the  same  time  the  Rev. 
1).  W.  Hoyt  assumed  office  as  pastor  of  the  church, 
ddie  title  to  the  property  was  retained  by  the  board, 
but  its  free  use  for  public  worship  was  granted  to  the 
new  body.  At  the  date  of  organization  the  number  of 
members  was  fifty,  the  larger  part  of  whom  were  from 
the  Lincoln  Square  Church. 


CHURCHES 


95 


Mctliodiste. 


Marginalia 


Methodism  made  its  first  approaches  for  the  capture 
of  Worcester  after  a somewhat  straggling  fashion.  In 
1790  the  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  “that  princely 
class-leader,”  as  Dr.  Dorchester  styles  him,  came  to 
Worcester,  looked  about  town,  fell  in  with  Dr.  Ban- 
croft, by  him  w^as  invited  to  tea,  “ drew  back  ” because 
the  Unitarian  doctor  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to 
say  grace  over  the  evening  cup,  and  went  on  his  way 
Mr.  Garrettson  tells  the  story  in  his  private  diary. 
The  urbane  Unitarian  doctor  was,  perhaps,  no  less 
devout  than  his  demonstrative  Methodist  brother,  but 
in  the  seclusion  of  his  own  home  he  chose  to  order 
his  devotions  in  his  own  way.  Next  after  Mr.  Garrett- 
son came  Bishop  Asbury,  in  1798,  in  1805,  1807, 
1812  and  1815.  But  neither  he  nor  any  other  itinerant 
found  any  foothold  in  Worcester  until  1823.  Then 
the  Rev.  John  E.  Risley  came  and  preached  the  first 
Methodist  sermon  heard  in  the  town.  Mr.  Risley  was 
travelling  the  Milford  Circuit  embracing  eighteen 
towns.  In  these  he  preached  two  hundre'd  and  thirty- 
five  times  in  one  year,  but  only  five  of  them  were  in 
Worcester.  These  preachings  were  in  a school-house 
at  New  Worcester,  where  were  the  only  Methodists  in 
town,  and  of  these  only  a family  or  two.  Other 
preachers  came  in  subsequent  years,  but  not  until 
1831  was  any  permanent  society  organized,  forty-one 
years  after  Garrettson’s  advent. 

In  June  1830  the  Rev.  Dexter  S.  King  had  been 
appointed  to  this  vacant  field  “to  break  up  new 
ground.”  He  began  at  New  Worcester  where  he 
organized  a class.  This  class  was  “ kept  alive  ” with 

13 


96 


WORCESTER 


preaching  in  the  school-house  once  in  two  weeks.  In 
1833  Solomon  Parsons  joined  the  class  and  then 
began  a movement  for  a society  in  the  centre  of  the 
town.  The  way  had  been  prepared  by  a young  lad 
named  Jonathan  L.  Estey,  who  came  to  town  early  in 
1832  full  of  2eal  to  hunt  up  and  consort  with  Meth- 
odists. He  at  last  found  and  became  a member  of 
the  class  at  New  Worcester,  and  by  his  zeal  so  infected 
his  associates  that  in  the  end  Methodist  preaching  was 
established  in  the  centre.  Early  in  1833  a room  was 
hiied  at  the  corner  of  Mechanic  and  Pinion  streets  for 
the  use  of  a Class.  There  the  Rev.  William  Rout- 
ledge  preached  at  times ; at  other  times  he  preached 
in  the  Central  Church  vestry  and  in  the  Baptist 
Church.  In  the  autumn  what  was  considered  a bold 
step  was  taken.  Eighteen  persons,  at  the  head  of 
whom  was  Solomon  Parsons,  presented  to  the  town 
authorities  a petition  for  leave  to  use  the  Town  Hall 
for  Methodist  meetings.  Leave  was  formally  granted 
at  $2  a Sunday,  and  the  first  Methodist  sermon  was 
preached  there  by  the  Rev.  Ira  M.  Bidwell  on  the 
Sunday  after  Christmas  in  1833.  Then  the  work  went 
on  “in  the  old  Methodist  style.”  “The  hall  was 
crowded,  and,”  says  Bidwell,  “we  had  a time  of 
power.  After  this  we  did  not  want  for  a congregation 
in  Worcester.”  Early  in  1834,  the  Rev.  Joseph  A. 
Merrill  was  appointed  by  the  bishop  to  this,  the 
Worcester  Mission.  On  the  8th  of  February  thirteen 
persons  were  duly  organized  as  the  “ Methodist 
Episcopal  Religious  Society  in  the  town  of  Worcester.” 
This  was  a parish  organization,  and  Dr.  Dorchester 
says  the  step  was  taken  to  obtain  relief  from  taxa- 
tion in  other  parishes.  But  this  is  a mistake.  Prior 


f 


CHURCHES 


97 


to  1834  the  law  which  would  have  made  this  step 
necessary  had  been  changed.  The  further  history  of 
this  organization  is  now  to  be  pursued  as  that  of  the 

First  Methodist  or  Trinity  Church. — In  June 
1834  the  Rev.  George  Pickering  was  appointed 
preacher  to  this  church,  but  was  also  charged  with 
duties  that  carried  him  into  the  surrounding  towns. 
Meantime,  a board  of  trustees  was  appointed  and  a 
lot  of  land  purchased  for  a church  site.  In  the  first 
year  the  membership  had  grown  to  one  hundred  and 
nine.  In  1835  Rev.  John  T.  Burrill  was  sent  to 
this  charge.  At  this  time  the  anti-slavery  fever  was 
at  its  height,  and  an  incident  occurred  which  imper- 
illed the  infant  church.  On  the  loth  of  August,  Rev. 
Orange  Scott,  then  the  presiding  elder  of  the  Provi- 
dence District,  undertook  to  deliver  an  anti-slavery 
lecture  in  the  Methodist  place  of  worship  at  the  Town 
Hall.  In  the  midst  of  his  discourse  Levi  Lincoln,  Jr., 
eldest  son  of  the  Governor,  entered  the  hall  with  an 
Irish  accomplice  named  Patrick  Doyle,  advanced  to 
the  desk,  seized  the  speaker’s  manuscript  and  tore  it 
in  pieces.  At  the  same  time  the  Irishman  laid  violent 
hands  on  the  speaker  himself.  This  was  done  in  the 
presence  of  an  audience  “ embracing  many  persons 
who  held  the  highest  offices  in  the  county  and  the 
state.  The  contemporary  account  of  the  affair  in  the 
Massachusetts  Spy  (August  12,  1835)  styled  it  a 
“ Breach  of  the  Peace,”  and  the  editor  strongly  con- 
demned the  outrage.  But  the  notice  taken  of  it  by 
the  authorities  seemed  to  indicate  that  the  assailed 
and  not  the  assailants  were  regarded  as  the  peace- 
breakers  ; for  directly  after,  the  selectmen,  at  the  head 


98 


IV0J^C£ST£J^ 


of  whom  was  the  late  Judge  Merrick,  notified  the 
Methodist  Society  that  if  the  Town  Hall  were  ever 
opened  again  for  an  anti-slavery  meeting  their  use  of 
it  for  preaching  would  be  forfeited.  The  society,  in 
its  weakness,  was  intimidated  and  did  not  again 
offend.  But  it  marks  the  temper  of  the  time  that, 
later  on,  the  courageous  Scott  was  by  his  own  brethren 
deposed  from,  or  not  re-appointed  to,  the  presiding 
eldership  because  he  would  not  promise  to  refrain 
from  anti-slavery  lecturing. 

In  the  autumn  of  1836  the  erection  of  a church 
was  begun  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Exchange  and 
Union  streets,  completed  in  March  1837, 

8th  of  that  month  was  dedicated  with  a sermon  by 
Professor  Holdich  of  Wesleyan  University.  This  was 
the  first  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Worcester.  The 
building  was  in  the  centre  of  population,  but  also  in 
the  centre  of  a mudhole.  It  stood  on  piles,  and  was 
approached  by  stepping  from  tuft  to  tuft  of  grass 
across  puddles  and  ooze.  The  Sj>y  of  that  day  took 
pay  for  advertising  the  dedication  of  this  lowly 
church,  but  took  no  notice  whatever  of  the  dedication 
itself.  The  church  survived  all  neglect,  and,  waxing 
stronger  and  stronger,  in  the  end  erected  one  of  the 
finest  church  edifices  in  the  city,  compelling  the 
homage  of  the  public  and  the  press. 

In  1837  the  Rev.  James  Porter  came  and  remained 
one  year.  Although  a year  of  general  bankruptcy,  it 
was  one  of  great  enlargement  for  the  church.  About 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  probationers  were  added 
to  the  membership  during  his  year.  Mr.  Porter  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jotham  Horton,  whose  term 
of  service  was  equally  brief.  In  May  1839  church 


CHURCHES 


99 


property  was  legally  transferred  to  a board  of  trustees, 
in  accordance  with  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  Rev.  Moses  L.  Scudder 
succeeded  to  the  pastorate  in  this  year,  to  be  followed 
by  the  Rev.  Miner  Raymond  in  1841.  Mr.  Raymond 
remained  two  years,  showed  himself  eminent  as  a 
preacher,  and  “ made  many  friends  beyond  the  limits 
of  his  own  society.”  This  year  was  made  memorable 
for  Worcester  Methodism  by  the  meeting  of  the  New 
England  Annual  Conference  in  the  town  for  the  first 
time. 

In  1843  Rev.  Charles  K.  True,  D.  D.,  was 
assigned  to  the  charge  of  this  church.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  and  a Methodist  minister  of 
mark.  Under  him  the  project  for  removing  the  church 
to  a site  near  the  Common  was  “renewed.”  But 
while  they  still  delayed,  it  was  burned  to  the  ground. 
Then  a site  was  speedily  purchased  and  the  Park 
Street  Church  erected.  The  Rev.  Amos  Binney  had 
become  the  pastor  in  1844,  under  him  the  new 
church  was  dedicated  on  the  i6th  of  August  1845. 
was  noted  that  Mr.  Binney’s  term  of  service  was  very 
“ profitable  ” financially,  since  he  had  carried  his 
people  through  many  embarrassments  growing  out 
of  the  church-building.  After  him  came  in  succession 
the  Rev.  Jonathan  D.  Bridge,  Rev.  Loranus  Crowell, 
Rev.  Nelson  E.  Cobleigh,  Rev.  Z.  A.  Mudge,  Rev. 
Daniel  E.  Chapin  (a  favorite,  sent  a second  time). 
Rev.  Fales  H.  Newhall,  Rev.  Chester  Field,  Rev.  John 
H.  Twombly,  Rev.  John  W.  Dadmun,  Rev.  John  H. 
Mansfield  (whose  ministry  of  three  years  was  very 
prosperous),  and  Rev.  Charles  N.  Smith  in  1868. 

By  this  time  the  Park  Street  Church  had  become 


lOO 


WORCESTER 


too  strait  for  the  congregation.  The  society,  there- 
fore, now  grown  strong  in  numbers,  in  courage  and  in 
resources,  determined  upon  building  a new  church 
adequate  to  its  new  demands.  Accordingly,  a site 
was  procured  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Chandler 
streets,  and  there  they  erected  Trinity  Church  at  a 
cost,  including  the  land,  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  This  crowning  church  of  Methodism  in 
Worcester  was  dedicated  on  the  25th  cf  April  1871. 
The  Rev.  F.  W.  Mallalieu,  D.  D.  (afterwards  bishop), 
was  the  first  preacher  appointed  for  Trinity  after  the 
occupation  of  the  new  house.  He  came  in  April  1871 
and  remained  one  year.  The  Rev.  Ira  G.  Bidwell, 
appointed  in  1872,  remained  three  years.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  V.  A.  Cooper,  who  was  appointed  to 
help  the  church  financially  as  well  as  spiritually.  In 
that  respect  there  was  no  disappointment,  as  through 
his  agency  the  debt  was  reduced  by  thirty-five  thousand 
dollars  in  one  year.  The  Rev.  A.  P.  Kendig  followed 
him  in  1877,  after  whom  came  in  succession  Rev.  J.  A. 
Cass,  in  1879 ; Rev.  C.  S.  Rogers,  D.  D.,  in  1882 ; 
Rev.  W.  T.  Perrin,  in  1885,  and  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Thomas, 
D.  D.,  in  1888. 

On  the  7th  of  February  1884,  the  Semi-centennial 
of  Methodism  in  Worcester  was  commemorated  with 
appropriate  services  at  Trinity  Church.  A noteworthy 
feature  of  the  occasion  v/as  the  reading  of  an  address 
in  English  by  a converted  Chinaman  belonging  to  the 
Grace  Church  membership. 1 


1 In  1889  the  number  of  Chinamen  in  Worcester  was  about  40. 
The  first  Chinaman  in  the  city  came  in  1872  and  established  a 
laundry  on  Church  street  in  a building  belonging  to  the  Bigelow 
estate.  He  remained  about  one  year,  and  was  led  by  Mr.  C.  H. 


CHURCHES 


lOI 


In  October  1889  the  number  of  rnembers  in  full  was 
741,  and,  including  probationers,  was  863. 


Laurel  Street  Church. — The  selection  of  Park 
street  for  the  new  site  of  the  First  Church  had  not 
been  satisfactory  to  all  the  members.  Some  thought 
it  carried  the  church  too  far  from  the  centre  of  popula- 
tion ; it  was  too  far  south.  Out  of  this  dissatisfaction 
grew  the  Laurel  Street  Church.  This  was  as  far  to 
the  north.  For  a time,  however,  the  new  colony  had 
its  place  of  worship  on  Thomas  Street,  which  was 
more  central.  The  church  was  duly  organized  on  the 
20th  of  July  1845  5 ^^1^  until  the  27th  of 

February  1849  that  the  new  house  on  Laurel  Street 
was  dedicated.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Richard 
S.  Rust.  He  was  soon  elected  principal  of  the  New 
Flampshire  Conference  Seminary,  and  after  a pastorate 
of  seven  months  was  released  from  his  engagement. 
The  Rev.  J.  W.  Mowry  followed,  after  whom  came  the 
Rev.  George  Dunbar.  This  pastor  was  indefatigable 
in  his  elforts  to  secure  the  erection  of  the  new  house 
of  worship.  In  April  1849  succeeded  by  the 

Rev.  Francis  A.  Griswold,  after  whom  came  in  succes- 
sion the  Rev.  Cyrus  S.  Eastman,  Rev.  William  M. 


Carpenter  to  attend  Christian  worship  at  Grace  Church.  In 
1873  came  Moy  Han  Lee  and  opened  a laundry  on  Pleasant  street 
where  the  (3dd  Fellows’  Building  now  stands.  As  Chinamen 
continued  to  increase  they  were  gathered  into  the  Sunday-school 
of  Grace  Church  by  Mr.  Carpenter  and  there  were  instructed  at 
noon  and  in  the  evening  of  every  Sunday,  each  Chinaman  having 
his  exclusive  teacher.  This  appears  to  have  been  the  only  move- 
ment of  note  in  Worcester  in  behalf  of  these  Asiatics. 


102 


WORCESTER 


Mann  in  1850,  Rev.  David  H.  Higgins,  Rev.  Joseph 
W.  Lewis  in  1853,  Mr.  Mowry  again  in  1854,  Rev. 
Henry  W.  Warren  in  1855  (afterwards  bishop),  Rev. 
Ichabod  Marcy  in  1857,  Rev.  Samuel  Kelly  in  1858, 
and  Rev.  Jefferson  Hascall,  who  had  long  been  favor- 
ably known  as  a presiding  elder  and  was  with  the 
Laurel  Street  Church  in  the  latter  part  of  1861  to  fill 
out  the  term  of  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Cromack.  The  latter 
had  been  appointed  in  i860,  but  had  left  in  August 
1861  to  become  chaplain  of  the  Nineteenth  Regiment 
of  Massachusetts  Volunteeers. 

In  1862  Rev.  T.  W.  Lewis  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  but  left  in  1863  become  Superintendent  of 
Methodist  Missions  in  South  Carolina,  Rev.  James 
Dean  completing  his  term.  After  him  came  Rev. 
M.  M.  Parkhurst  in  1864,  Rev.  Samuel  Kelly  again  in 
1865,  under  whom  the  church  reached  its  highest 
prosperity  ; Rev.  Angelo  Carroll  in  1867,  under  whom 
the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars  was  expended  in 
church  improvements ; Rev.  William  Pentecost  in 
1869,  Rev.  H.  D.  Weston  in  1872,  Rev.  William 
Pentecost  again  in  1875,  Rev.  Fayette  Nichols  in  1878, 
Rev.  Garrett  Beekman  in  1880,  under  whose  ministry 
“ the  congregation  doubled ; ” Rev.  G.  M.  Smiley  in 
1883,  continuing  three  years,  in  the  last  of  which  the 
fortieth  anniversary  of  the  church  was  celebrated ; 
Rev.  Ira  G.  Ross  in  1886,  and  the  Rev.  Alonzo 
Sanderson  in  1887.  Besides  his  spiritual  work,  Mr. 
Sanderson  devoted  himself  energetically  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  financial  condition  of  the  society, 
and  among  other  measures  established  a monthly 
paper  called  the  Worcester  Methodist^  from  which  about 
fifty  dollars  a month  came  into  the  parish  treasury. 


CHURCHES 


103 


As  the  result  of  his  efficient  labors  a debt  of  more 
than  $6100  had  been  extinguished  by  the  close  of  the 
year  1889,  and  the  society  placed  upon  a sound  finan- 
cial basis.  The  value  of  the  church  property,  aside 
from  the  parsonage,  is  set  at  $12000.  In  October  1889, 
the  membership,  including  probationers,  was  144. 


Third  M.  E.  (Webster  Square)  Church. — This 
church  was  organized  in  i860.  Two  thirds  of  its  first 
members  came  from  Park  Street  Church.  Its  first 
**^3astor  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  Dorchester  who  had  also 
been  the  chief  agent  in  its  organization.  In  1855 
he  had  become  a member  of  the  Connecticut  Senate 
where  he  acted  a prominent  part  in  various  directions. 
But  in  later  years  Dr.  Dorchester  became  greatly  more 
distinguished  as  the  learned  historian  and  statistician 
of  the  Methodist  Connection.^  The  first  religious  ser- 
vices of  this  church  were  held  in  Union  Hall.  The 
membership,  at  first  small,  increased  more  than  ten- 
fold during  the  first  year.  Members  of  other  denom- 
inations in  the  vicinity  took  a lively  interest  in  the 
enterprise  and  contributed  to  its  maintenance.  In 
1863  the  Rev.  William  Gordon  became  the  pastor. 
To  him  succeeded,  in  due  order.  Rev.  William  A. 
Braman  in  1864,  Rev.  William  Pentecost  in  1866,  Rev. 
Edward  W.  Virgin  in  1867,  Rev.  Benjamin  F. 
Chase  in  1869.  This  last  pastor  was  in  the  midst  of 
a work  of  great  spiritual  power,  when  he  was  suddenly 
prostrated  by  a hemorrhage  which,  after  prolonged 
illness,  terminated  his  life.  His  memory  long  remained 


1 In  1889  Dr.  Dorchester  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison 
Commissioner  of  Indian  Schools  in  the  United  States. 

14 


Marginalia 


104 


WORCESTER 


fragrant  in  the  church.  After  him  came  the  Rev. 
Charles  H.  Hanaford,  in  1870.  Under  him  the  long- 
agitated  subject  of  church-building  assumed  definite 
shape  ; contributions  came  in  from  members  and  from 
others  outside,  notably  from  Albert  Curtis  and  the 
Messrs.  Coes  ; and  the  house  was  erected  on  a fine 
site  purchased  long  before,  and  on  the  27th  of  April 
was  duly  dedicated.  The  cost  was  about  $20,000.  In 
1872  the  Rev.  Pliny  Wood  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  After  him  came  the  Rev.  xMr.  Parsons  in 
1873,  Rev.  E.  A.  Titus  in  1875,  V.  M.  Simmons 
in  1878,  Rev.  Daniel  Richardson  in  1879,  J.  W. 
Finn  in  1880,  Rev.  N.  Fellows  in  1882,  Rev.  J.  O. 
Knowles  in  1883,  and  Rev.  L.  W.  Staples  in  1886, 
completing  his  term  of  two  years  in  1888.  In  the 
same  year  Rev.  Henry  Dorr  came  to  the  charge  of  this 
church  and  so  remained. 

In  October,  1889  the  membership  in  full  was  210, 
and  the  number  of  probationers  24. 


Grace  Church.  The  growth  of  the  city  and  the 
influx  of  Methodist  families  led  up  to  this  enterprise. 
To  save  these  families  from  wandering  into  other  folds, 
as  well  as  to  help  on  the  religious  life  of  the  city,  was 
the  burden  laid  on  pious  and  sagacious  Methodists. 
The  decisive  push,  however,  was  given  by  the  presid- 
ing elder.  Dr.  Dorchester,  in  a sermon  on  the  moral 
condition  of  our  cities  preached  in  February  1867. 
This  was  reinforced  by  the  approval  of  the  Annual 
Conference  in  April  following.  By  this  body  the  Rev. 
J.  Oramel  Peck,  a graduate  of  Amherst  in  1862,  was 
appointed  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  society,  which 


CHURCHES 


105 


had  already  been  organized  under  the  name  of  the 
“Main  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.”  Wash- 
burn Hall  was  secured  for  Sunday  services  and 
Lincoln  House  Hall  for  other  meetings.  Pluck  and 
push  ruled  from  the  first.  Said  Dr.  Dorchester:  “A 
more  spirited  and  liberal  company  of  Christians  have 
seldom  been  united  in  church  fellowship.”  The  hall 
was  filled  to  overflowing;  the  Sunday  school  quickly 
became  one  of  the  largest  in  the  city;  the  first  two 
years  the  society  raised  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
Dr.  Peck,  afterward  distinguished  in  a wider  sphere, 
was  a man  of  great  power,  physical  endurance,  untiring 
activity  and  worthy  ambition.  To  him  was  ascribed  in 
a large  degree  the  instant  success  of  this  church  enter- 
prise. The  edifice  was  not  completed  till  1872,  under 
the  ministry  of  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Andrew 
McKeown.  The  site  finally  chosen  was  on  Walnut 
street  instead  of  Main  street,  and  the  name  of  Grace 
Church  was  substituted  for  the  one  first  adopted.  The  | 
cost  of  the  land  was  ten  thousand  dollars.  In  July 

1871,  the  vestry  was  completed  and  occupied  for  relig- 
ious services.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  January 

1872,  with  a sermon  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy  of  Balti- 
more. The  cost,  including  furnishings,  was  $70,000. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  McKeown  was  the  Rev.  J.  O. 
Knowles.  He  came  in  1872  and  remained  one  year, 
and  was  then  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  C.  D.  Hills,  who 
remained  three  years.  In  1876  the  Rev.  George  S. 
Chadbourne,  afterward  presiding  elder  of  the  Boston 
District,  was  appointed  to  Grace  Church.  He  occu- 
pied his  term  of  three  years  largely  in  pushing  the 
church  through  a period  of  financial  embarrassment. 
That  serious  business,  however,  was  relieved  by  the 


Marginalia 


Marginalia 


io6  WORCESTER 

observance,  in  May  1877,  of  the  tenth  anniversary  of 
the  church,  when  an  eloquent  sermon  was  preached  by 
Bishop  Foster.  In  1880  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson,  an 
Englishman,  was  appointed  to  the  charge.  His  pas- 
torate of  two  years  resulted  in  securing  the  warm 
attachment  of  his  people.  The  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela,  D.  D., 
followed  him,  and  continued  in  charge  till  1885.  He 
was  eminent  alike  in  preaching  and  in  providing  for 
the  payment  of  the  church  debt.  His  successor,  the 
Rev.  George  Whittaker,  will  long  be  remembered  with 
gratitude  for  his  powerful  and  successful  advocacy  of 
the  no-license  cause  in  the  city.  In  September  1887, 
he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Wiley  University,  a 
Southern  college,  and  the  church  was  left  to  the 
strange  experience  of  hearing  till  the  next  Conference 
a succession  of  preachers  not  appointed  by  that  author- 
ity. But  in  April  1888,  Grace  Church  resumed  its 
normal  condition  under  the  Rev.  John  Galbraith,  who 
was  then  appointed  the  minister  in  charge. 

In  October  1889,  the  membership  was  528  and 
including  probationers  was  560. 


Coral  Street  Church. — In  olden  time  a gentle 
eminence  to  the  southeast  of  the  “little  village  of 
Worcester  ” bore  the  Indian  name  of  Sagatabscot. 
There,  in  1679,  the  first  white  man,  Digory  Serjent, 
built  his  house,  and  there,  in  spite  of  warnings  against 
the  red  savages,  he  persisted  in  living  until  1702, 
when  a rescuing  party  arrived  only  to  find  him  lying 
slain  in  his  dwelling  and  his  family  carried  into 
captivity.  Sagatabscot  remained  bare  and  open  till 
1869,  when  the  city  began  to  creep  over  its  slopes  and 


CHURCHES 


107 

it  was  christened  Union  Hill.  The  houses  soon  mul- 
tiplied to  such  an  extent  as  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  Methodists  to  the  locality.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Mc- 
Keown,  of  Grace  Church,  was  the  first  one  to  move, 
and  by  him  well-known  laymen  of  that  and  other 
Methodist  churches  were  enlisted  for  work  there.  On 
the  15th  of  September  1871,  a church  lot  was  pur- 
chased on  the  corner  of  Coral  and  Waverly  streets  for 
the  sum  of  seventy-two  hundred  dollars.  In  the  same 
month  open-air  Sunday  services  were  held  on  the  lot 
at  five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  by  the  Methodist  minis- 
ters of  the  city.  Subscriptions  toward  the  enterprise 
of  about  nine  hundred  dollars  were  there  obtained  ; 
through  the  personal  solicitations  of  Mr.  McKeown  the 
amount  was  increased  to  about  eighteen  hundred 
dollars.  In  January  1872,  a Sunday  school  with  one 
hundred  and  fifty  members  was  organized  in  Scofield’s 
block  at  the  foot  of  Coral  street.  Teachers  from  other 
denominations  were  enlisted,  and  among  the  scholars 
were  twenty  boys  of  Roman  Catholic  parentage.  On 
the  8th  of  May  in  the  same  year,  the  church  was  duly 
organized.  Presently,  the  presiding  elder  appeared  on 
the  field,  conferred  with  the  committee  in  charge  and 
decided  that  the  mission  should  be  erected  into  a 
regular  appointment  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Con- 
ference. This  body  assembled  in  Worcester  on  the 
27th  of  March,  when  the  Rev.  S.  E.  Chase  was 
appointed  the  first  pastor  in  charge.  From  that  time  a 
regular  preaching  service  was  held  in  the  third  story  of 
Scofield’s  block.  The  first  congregation  consisted  of 
twenty  persons.  On  the  23d  of  April  various  plans 
and  estimates  for  a church  edifice  were  presented  to 
the  committee,  and  the  result  was  that  a contract 


io8 


WORCESTER 


was  closed  for  a partial  completion  of  the  building  at  a 
cost  of  eighty-eight  hundred  dollars. 

On  the  8th  of  May  in  the  same  year,  1872,  the 
church  was  organized  with  eighteen  members  by  Rev. 
I..  Crowell,  the  presiding  elder.  Hard  work  and  dark 
hours  because  of  limited  means  followed  this  begin- 
ning. But  through  the  zeal  and  labors  notably  of 
Alpheus  Walker  and  N.  H.  Clark,  the  building  was 
completed  at  a cost  of  thirteen  thousand  dollars,  and 
on  the  sixteenth  of  April  1873,  was  dedicated.  In 
March  1872,  the  mission  had  been  named  Christ 
Chapel,  but  in  January  1873,  it  received  the  name  of 
Union  Hill  M.  E.  Church.  Still  another  change  was 
made  on  the  24th  of  April  1876,  when  it  assumed  the 
name  of  Coral  Street  M.  E.  Church.  Mr.  Chase 
remained  in  charge  for  three  years  and  was  then  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  H.  D.  Weston.  In  1875  a vestry 
was  built  at  a cost  of  three  thousand  dollars  and  dedi- 
cated in  December  of  the  same  year.  In  the  spring  of 
1878  the  Rev.  Jesse  Wagner  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  His  term  of  sevice  closed  in  April  1881, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Austin  F.  Herrick. 
About  this  time  serious  financial  complications  threat- 
ened the  existence  of  the  society.  A compromise  was 
at  last  happily  effected,  whereby  claims  to  the  amount 
of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  were  cancelled  and  a solid 
financial  basis  secured.  In  April  1883,  the  Rev. 
Charles  Young  came  in  charge  and  remained  till  April 
1886,  when  the  Rev.  William  P.  Ray  became  his  suc- 
cessor. He  was  followed  in  April  1889  by  Rev.  J.  O. 
Knowles,  D.  D. 

In  October  1889,  the  membership  in  full  was  160 
and  the  number  of  probationers  10. 


CHURCHES 


109 


Roman  Catholics, 

The  canal  and  the  railroad  were  the  means  of 
bringing  Roman  Catholicism  into  Worcester.  First 
came  the  digging  of  the  Blackstone  Canal  from  Worces- 
ter to  Providence;  this  brought  many  Irish  laborers 
to  Worcester  and  vicinity.  The  construction  of  the 
Boston  and  Worcester  Railroad  followed,  bringing 
many  more.  These  people  and  their  families  naturally 
desired  the  kind  of  spiritual  guidance  to  which  they 
had  been  accustomed.  As  they  found  nothing  of  the 
kind  then  in  Worcester,  they  asked  Bishop  Fenwick, 
of  Boston,  to  send  them  a priest.  In  answer  to  this 
application,  the  bishop  sent  them  the  Rev.  James 
Fitton,  a recent  student  of  his,  then  just  settled  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut.  This  led  to  the  inclusion  of 
Worcester  in  the  “ missionary  circuit  ” to  which  Mr. 
Fitton  had  also  been  appointed.  He  came  to  Worces- 
ter in  1834,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  held  the  first 
religious  service  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  It 
was  held  in  the  old  stone  building,  still  standing,  on 
Front  Street  near  the  line  of  the  old  Blackstone 
Canal,  the  front  wall,  however,  being  now  of  brick.' 


^In  the  library  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society  is  preserved 
a manuscript  diary  of  Christopher  C.  Baldwin,  a former  librarian, 
from  which  I am  permitted  to  make  the  following  extracts  touch- 
ing the  beginnings  of  Roman  Catholicism  in  Worcester  : 

“April  4,  1834.  I had  a visit  to-day  from  the  Rev.  James 
Fitton,  a Catholic  priest  from  Hartford,  Conn.  He  told  me  he  was 
the  first  native  of  Boston  who  had  ever  preached  the  Catholic 
faith  in  New  England.  He  was  born  in  Boston  April  10,  1805, 
and  is  going  to  spend  his  birthday  with  his  mother  at  Boston  on 
Thursday  next,  when,  he  says,  he  shall  be  29  years  old. 

“ 7.  Mr.  Fitton  yesterday  assembled  the  Catholics  in  this  town, 
and,  with  those  who  came  from  the  factories  at  Clappville  and 
Millbury,  he  had  about  sixty,  besides  women  and  children.  He 


I lO 


WORCESTER 


At  that  time  only  six  or  seven  families,  embracing  about 
twenty-five  persons,  were  enlisted.  In  the  next  year 
the  first  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  Worcester  was 
erected  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  St.  John’s  Church. 
It  was  named  Christ  Church,  and  was  a wooden 
structure  thirty-two  by  sixty-two  feet.  “ The  first 
year,”  wrote  Mr.  Fitton,  “ saw  the  foundation  laid,  the 
following  saw  the  building  up  and  roofed,  and  within 
two  years  completed  and  paid  for.  In  1841,  Aug.  22, 
it  was  dedicated  as  Christ  Church.”  This  sufficed 
until  1845,  when  it  was  removed  to  make  way  for  St. 
John’s.  After  its  removal  it  received  additions  and 
became  the  “ Catholic  Institute.” 


St.  John’s  Church. — The  corner-stone  of  St.  John’s 
Church  was  laid  on  the  27th  of  May,  1845,  with  impos- 
ing ceremonies,  under  the  episcopal  supervision  of 
Bishop  Fitzpatrick;  and  on  the  24th  of  June  1846, 
the  church  was  dedicated  by  him,  with  still  more 
imposing  ceremonies.  The  dimensions  of  the  building 
wQre  sixty-five  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  feet,  and 


was  subjected  to  some  difficulty  in  finding  a convenient  place  to 
hold  a meeting,  but  at  length  obtained  consent  to  hold  it  in  the 
new  store  erected  by  Mr.  Bailey,  which  is  constructed  of  stone 
and  stands  on  the  north  side  of  Front  street  on  the  west  bank  of  ' 
the  Blackstone  Canal.  I believe  this  to  be  the  first  Catholic 
sermon  ever  preached  in  this  town.  After  service  was  over  a 
subscription  was  taken  with  the  view  of  raising  money  to  erect  a 
chapel  or  church,  and,  what  is  very  surprising,  five  hundred 
dollars  were  soon  subscribed.  And  in  addition  to  this,  another 
hundred  dollars  was  procured  to  defray  Mr.  Fitton’s  expenses 
from  Hartford  here  and  to  enable  him  to  visit  the  Catholics  in 
different  places  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.” 

“The  first  mass  offered  at  Worcester  was  in  the  room  of  a 
private  house  occupied  by  a worthy  mechanic  byname  of  McKillup 
on  Front  street.”  Fitton’s  '‘''Sketches^'  etc.,  p.  287. 


•>  '*•0 


•:•  v.'W^W*rWT'r»ywWv"W555xSS'P^^wwsSS5 

i-'  "] 


EVEN! 


AGO  TOD/ 


, JANUARY  G,  ’62.  • 

This  being  the  first  Monday  in  Janua 
the  new  City  Government  of  Worcester  is 
augurlTed.  P.  Emory  Aldrich,  Bsi-. 
ing  Isaac  Davis  as  Mayor,  and  new  heads  . 
pear  in  several  departments,  perhaps  the  m 
notable  of  the  appointments  being  that 
William  Starr  as  Chief  of  Police,  he  hav^ 
made  his  bow  to  a Worcester  public  aim 
twenty  years  earlier  as  a teacher  in  the  xH 
School,  'and  proofing  himself  one  of  the  m 


the  firing  of  seven 


CHURCHES 


III 


for  a long  time  it  was  the  largest  church  in  the  region. 
The  cost  was  about  forty  thousand  dollars.  Its  seating 
capacity  was  1450,  and  it  was  ample  for  the  whole 
Roman  Catholic  population,  which  at  that  time 
embraced  only  about  thirteen  hundred  souls.  Father 
Fitton,  who  may  well  be  styled  the  father  of  Romanism 
in  Worcester,  left  the  town  in  1843,  and  returned  to 
Boston,  where  he  was  born,  and  where  he  afterward 
died.  He  was  a man  of  some  literary  parts  and  the 
author  of  several  volumes. 

The  Rev.  A.  Williamson  succeeded  Mr.  Fitton  in 

I 

October  1843,  remained  till  April  1845,  when  he 
resigned  because  of  ill  health.  Flis  successor  was  the 
Rev.  Mathew  W.  Gibson,  who  was  characterized  as  “ a 
man  of  great  energy  and  power.”  He  was  appointed 
to  the  charge  on  the  2d  of  April  1845,  and  remained 
till  April  1856;  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  build- 
ing not  only  St.  John’s,  but  also  St.  Anne’s,  spoken  of 
further  on.  After  Father  Gibson  came  the  Rev.  John 
Boyce,  who  had  been  his  predecessor’s  assistant.  He 
died  in  1864,  while  in  charge,  greatly  regretted.  He, 
too,  was  a writer  of  merit,  “an  able  writer  of  fiction,” 
and  the  author,  among  other  things,  of  “ Paul  Pepper- 
grass.”  His  birthplace  was  Donegal,  Ireland,  and 
Maynooth  was  his  alma  7nater.  The  Rev.  Patrick  T. 
O’Reilly,  D.D.,  afterward  bishop  of  the  diocese,  was 
the  successor  of  Father  Boyce  as  pastor  of  St.  John’s. 
From  1857  to  1862  he  had  been  the  assistant  pastor. 
In  the  latter  year  he  removed  to  Boston,  whence  he 
returned  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  Worcester  church. 
Upon  his  elevation  to  the  bishopric,  in  1879,  his  assist- 
ant, the  Rev.  Thomas  Griffin,  was  appointed  to  the 

pastoral  charge  of  St.  John’s.  In  1889  Father  Griffin 

15 


Marginalia 


II2 


WORCESTEI^ 


Ma?‘ginalia 


was  made  a Doctor  of  Divinity  by  St.  Mary’s  Semin- 
ary, Baltimore,  and  in  the  same  year  he  received  from 
Rome  the  titular  dignity  of  Monsignore}  The  investi- 
ture took  place  in  Worcester  with  imposing  ceremonies 
on  the  2d  of  October.  Dr.  Griffin  is  the  only  permanent 
Roman  Catholic  rector  in  the  city ; all  the  others  are 
“ movable,”  that  is,  liable  to  be  sent  elsewhere  at  the 
bidding  of  the  bishop.  The  principal  assistant  at  St. 
John’s  is  the  Rev.  William  H.  Finneran ; besides  him 
are  the  Rev.  C.  W.  Foley,  Rev.  W.  C.  McCaughan  and 
Rev.  M.  O’Brien. 

In  October,  1889,  this  parish,  according  to  the  state- 
ment of  Mgr.  Griffin,  consisted  of  about  10,000  souls. 


St.  Anne’s  Church. — This  church  was  an  offshoot 
of  St.  John’s.  Commenced  in  1855,  it  was  completed 
in  1856,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  John  J.  Power, 
who  became  its  first  pastor.  He  remained  such  until 
1872,  when  the  Rev.  Dennis  Scannell  was  appointed 
to  the  place,  which  he  still  held  in  1889.  In  1884-85 
came  a great  enlargement  and  aggrandizement  by  the 
erection  of  “ new  St.  Anne’s.”  The  old  church  was 
of  wood,  and  the  new  one  of  brick  and  stone.  The 
old  one  stood  on  the  low  level  of  the  unsightly 
“ meadow,”  hard  by ; the  new  one,  placed  on  a sharp 
elevation,  was  made  a conspicuous  object  of  admiration 
for  all  beholders.  The  dimensions  of  the  edifice  are 
seventy  by  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  feet.  The 
auditorium  has  a capacity  for  seating  one  thousand 

1 “ Monsignore.  A title  given  to  persons  allowed  the  social  rank 
and  precedence  of  bishops  at  the  Court  of  Rome.” 

Shipley:  Glossary  of  Eccles.  Terms.  London,  1872. 


CHURCHES  1 13 

one  hundred  persons.  Twin  towers,  rising  to  a lofty 
height,  form  a distinguishing  feature  of  this  imposing 
edifice;  the  spire  rises  135  feet  above  the  foundation 
and  perhaps  200  feet  above  the  level  of  Main  street. 
The  cost  of  the  church  is  set  at  about  $70,000. 

In  October  1889  the  parish  was  said  to  consist  of 
not  less  than  3800  souls. 


St.  Paul’s  Church. — The  corner-stone  of  this 
church  was  laid  on  the  4th  day  of  July  1869.  The 
basement  had  been  completed  and  had  served  as  a 
place  for  public  worship  until  July  4,  1874,  when  the 
church  itself  (save  the  tower)  was  finished  and  dedi- 
cated. It  is  a gothic  structure  of  cathedral  proportions, 
with  a facade  of  ninety  feet  in  width  and  with  a length 
of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet,  standing  upon 
elevated  ground  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  It  is 
constructed  of  granite  throughout,  and  cost  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  tower  was  completed 
in  1889,  but  not  according  to  the  original  design  which 
included  a lofty  spire.  A distinguishing  feature  of  St. 
Paul’s  is  a statue  of  marble  exhibiting  the  traditional 
figure,  features  and  insignia  of  the  Apostle.  It  was 
executed  in  Italy  under  the  order  of  the  American 
sculptor,  Rogers,  and  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  George 
Crompton.  It  is  placed  upon  a pedestal  and  beneath 
a canopy,  both  of  which  are  efigaged  in  the  exterior 
wall  at  an  elevation  above  the  porch  and  are  of  the 
same  material  as  that  of  the  building  itself.  This 
noble  edifice  owes  its  origin  and  completion  to  the 
Rev.  John  J.  Power,  D.D.,  Vicar-general  of  the  diocese 
and  the  first  and  only  pastor  of  St.  Paul’s.  Rev. 


Marginalia 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


114 


Maurice  A.  O’Sullivan  and  Rev.  Thomas  Hanrahan 
are  his  assistants.  In  October  1889,  the  parish  con- 
sisted of  3,600  souls. 


Church  of  Notre  Dame. — This  is  the  only  French 
Catholic  Church  in  Worcester.  The  first  movement 
toward  its  establishment  was  in  1869.  Its  name  in 
full  is  “Church  of  Notre  Dame  des  Canadiens.”  The 
first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Primeau.  In  1870  the 
Methodist  Church  on  Park  Street  was  bought  for  its 
use  at  a cost  of  thirty-two  thousand  seven  hundred 
dollars.  Here  the  first  Mass  was  celebrated  in  June 
1870.  At  the  beginning  the  parish  embraced  seven- 
teen hundred  and  forty-three  souls,  of  whom  eleven 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  were  communicants.  In  eleven 
years  the  first  number  had  grown  to  be  forty-threr 
hundred,  and  the  number  of  communicants  to  b 
twenty-five  hundred.  In  1880-81  the  increase  of  the 
congregation  required  an  enlargement  of  the  edifice, 
and  the  result  was,  in  effect,  a new  structure.  The 
plain  old  building  was  transformed,  by  fine  architect 
ural  touches,  into  a handsome  and  spacious  edifice 
adding  much  to  the  surrounding  attractions  of  the 
historic  Common  upon  which  it  fronts.  The  dimer 
sions  are  fifty-four  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-eig’ 
feet.  A life  size  figure  in  bronze  of  the  Virgin  ? 
mounts  the  front  pediment.  The  cost  of  the  imprc 
ments  was  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  The  pealing 
the  angehis  from  the  massive  bell  in  its  tower  d 
reminds  the  city  of  the  church’s  existence  and  the  f 
ful  of  their  duty.  After  Mr.  Primeau’s  retireme 
Rev.  Isadore  Beaudry  became  in  1882  the  * 


CHURCHES 


115 

and  in  the  following  year  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Brouillet,  who  was  in  charge  in  1889. 
The  assistants  of  the  pastor  are  Rev.  William  Alexan- 
dre, Rev.  Joseph  Genest  and  Rev.  D.  Durocher. 
Besides  the  church  of  Notre  Dame,  Father  Brouillet 
has  charge  of  several  French  missions,  which  he 
established  after  coming  to  Worcester.  The  first  of 
these  was 

St.  Anne’s. — This  mission  was  established  on  the 
corner  of  Grant  and  Southgate  streets  at  South 
Worcester  on  the  9th  of  January  1886.  A house  was 
purchased  by  Father  Brouillet  at  a cost  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  was  converted  into  a temporary 
home  for  the  mission.  In  1889  an  addition  was  made 
to  the  structure  at  a cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars. 

St.  Joseph’s  ^2iS>  established  on  the  9th  of  January, 
1887,  at  the  corner  of  Wall  and  Norfolk  streets,,  on 
Oak  Hill,  where  a chapel  was  built  in  that  year  at  a 
cost  of  sixty-five  hundred  dollars.  In  1889  additions 
were  made  costing  forty-six  hundred  dollars.  Incipient 
measures  have  been  taken  to  add  to  the  number  of 
these  missions. 

When  Father  Brouillet  came  in  1883  he  at  once 
proceeded  to  take  a census  of  the  French  Catholic 
population  of  Worcester  and  found  it  to  be  eight 
thousand.  According  to  his  careful  estimate,  this  had 
increased  to  nearly  ten  thousand  in  1889.  Of  that 
number  four  thousand  and  over  were  communicants. 


Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. — This 
enterprise  was  inaugurated  in  February  1872  under 
Bishop  O’Reilly  and  Rev.  Thomas  Griffin,  chancellor 


WORCESTER 


1 16 


Marginalia 


of  the  diocese.  At  that  time  there  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  church  a cottage  which  was  removed  to  make  way 
for  the  new  edifice.  While  it  was  in  the  process  of 
removal  and  still  upon  the  street,  Father  Walsh  admin- 
istered baptism  to  three  children,  joined  in  wedlock 
two  couples,  held  a Sunday-school  and  celebrated  two 
masses  on  Sunday  within  its  peregrinating  walls.  So 
urgent  were  the  demands  of  Roman  Catholicism  in 
that  quarter.  The  church  was  organized  in  November 
1873  ; the  erection  of  the  church  edifice  was  begun  in 
the  same  year.  In  the  next  year  the  basement  was 
completed  and  then  used  for  worship  until  December 
1878,  when  the  whole  superstructure  was  finished.  It 
was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  John  J.  Power,  D.  D.,  Vicar- 
general,  with  a large  body  of  the  priesthood  assisting. 
The  building  is  seventy  feet  wide  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty-four  feet  long,  and  has  eleven  hundred  and  fifty 
sittings.  The  cost  has  been  forty  thousand  dollars. 
Rev.  Robert  Walsh  became  the  pastor  in  1874  and  so 
continued.  Mr.  Walsh  was  born  in  Ireland  and  had 
his  education  at  Waterford  in  that  country.  In  Octo- 
ber 1889,  the  parish  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  con- 
sisted of  sixteen  hundred  souls. 


Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart. — This,  the  sixth 
Roman  Catholic  church  in  chronological  order,  is 
located  on  Cambridge  street  at  South  Worcester.  The 
architecture  is  full  gothic,  the  form  rectangular,  the 
material  brick  with  a foundation  of  granite,  the  dimen- 
sions 1 12  feet  by  64  and  the  interior  height  of  the  main 
auditorium  64  feet.  On  the  2nd  of  July  1879,  the  first 
excavations  for  the  building  were  made,  and  on  the 


CHURCHES 


117 

2ist  of  September  following  the  corner-stone  was  laid 
by  Bishop  O’Reilly.  On  the  24th  of  January  i88o  the 
parish  was  organized,  and  at  the  same  time  the  Rev. 
Thomas  J.  Conaty,  D.  D.,^  then  assistant  at  St.  John’s 
church,  was  appointed  its  first  pastor.  The  super- 
structure was  finished  and  the  basement  furnished  for 
use  on  Easter  Sunday  of  the  same  year.  On  the  21st 
of  September  1884,  the  auditorium  was  opened  for 
public  worship  and  the  church  was  then  dedicated. 
There  are  eight  hundred  sittings  in  the  basement  and 
eight  hundred  and  forty  in  the  auditorium.  The  Sun- 
day-school has  a membership  of  six  hundred.  The 
organization  of  total  abstinence  societies  in  this  parish 
has  been  made  a conspicuous  feature  by  the  pastor ; 
the  several  societies  for  young  men,  young  women  and 
boys  include  four  hundred  members.  Connected  with 
this  church  is  Church  Hall  within  the  same  enclosure 
but  fronting  on  Sheridan  street.  This  hall,  which  is 
devoted  to  society  purposes,  is  84  feet  by  50,  contains 
six  hundred  sittings,  and  also  has  a gymnasium  50  feet 
square.  The  cost  of  the  parish  property  was  about 
eighty  thousand  dollars.  The  pastor’s  assistant  is  the 
Rev.  M.  W.  Mulhane.  The  parish  consists  of  thirty- 
two  hundred  souls. 


St.  Peter’s  Church. — This  church  stands  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Grand  streets.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  Sunday  the  7th  of  September  1884,  by 
Bishop  O’Reilly  under  the  supervision  of  the  pastor. 
Rev.  Daniel  H.  O’Neill.  The  event  was  marked  by  a 


1 The  degree  was  conferred  by  Georgetown  University  in  1S89. 


ii8 


WORCESTER 


great  military  display,  with  a procession  of  various 
orders  through  Main  street.  The  Vicar-general  and 
the  chancellor  of  the  diocese  were  also  present  assist- 
ing. The  building  is  of  brick,  with  granite  trimmings, 
seventy  feet  by  one  hundred  and  thirty,  with  a massive 
square  tower  ninety-eight  feet  high.  It  has  a seating 
capacity  for  ong  thousand,  but  for  the  present  public 
worship  is  held  in  the  basement.  The  cost  of  the 
church  when  completed  is  put  at  sixty  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  value  of  the  land  at  twelve  to  fifteen 
thousand  more.  Father  O’Neill  was  born  in  1834  at 
St.  Albans,  Vt.,  where  he  received  his  primary  training 
in  the  common  schools.  Coming  to  this  city  he 
engaged  in  business  for  a while  and  then  entered  Holy 
Cross  College  where  he  received  his  classical  educa- 
tion. His  course  in  divinity  was  taken  at  St.  Joseph’s 
Theological  Seminary  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  October 
1889,  the  number  of  families  in  St.  Peter’s  parish  was 
put  by  the  pastor  at  about  250  and  the  number  of 
souls  at  1400. 


St.  Stephen’s  Church. — This  church  is  on  Grafton 
street  at  the  corner  of  Caroline  street  and  is  the  most 
recently  organized  one  of  this  order.  The  parish  was 
established  in  February  1887.  At  first,  religious  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  school-house  on  Grafton  street. 
But  early  in  the  spring  of  1887,  ground  was  broken  for 
a church  edifice;  this  was  completed  during  the  sum- 
mer and  dedicated  on  the  first  Sunday  in  September  of 
the  same  year.  It  is  a wooden  structure  with  a base- 
ment of  brick,  and  is  of  attractive  appearance.  The 
cost  of  the  land  was  $16,500  and  that  of  the  building 


( i^• 


CHURCHES 


119 

and  furnishing  $10,000.  The  auditorium  will  seat  704 
persons  and  the  room  in  the  basement  about  as  many. 
The  Rev.  Richard  S.  J.  Burke  is  the  first  and  only 
pastor  which  the  church  has  had.  He  was  born  in 
Worcester  and  was  graduated  from  the  High  School  in 
1870  and  from  Holy  Cross  College  in  1873. 

In  October  1889,  the  number  of  souls  in  the  parish 
was  said  by  the  pastor  to  be  1400. 

In  1889  the  number  of  Roman  Catholics  in  Worces- 
ter was  said  by  the  bishop  of  the  diocese  to  be  fully 
forty  thousand.  But  the  aggregate  of  the  number 
of  souls  in  the  several  parishes  as  given  by  their 
respective  pastors  (in  one  case  by  the  assistant)  did 
not  then  exceed  thirty-five  thousand.  In  this  number 
were  included  the  French  Catholics,  whose  number, 
put  by  their  pastor  at  nine  thousand  in  1888,  is  now 
put  at  somewhat  less  than  ten  thousand.  The  ter- 
ritorial division  of  the  parishes  was  first  made  by  the 
bishop  of  the  diocese  in  1874,  although  parishes  had 
existed  before.  At  that  date  there  were  but  four  terri- 
torial parishes,  Notre  Dame  being  ‘national’  only. 
Since  then,  the  addition  of  three  more  parishes  has 
required  a modification  of  the  original  boundaries.^ 


1 The  following  description  of  the  Parish  Boundaries  is 
printed  from  the  manuscript  of  the  chancellor  of  the  diocese  by 
whom  it  was  furnished  at  the  suggestion  of  the  bishop : 

“St.John’s. — Mechanic  from  Church  to  Union  Depot;  east 
side  of  Church  to  Salem,  east  to  city  barn  and  on  in  a line  to  Gas 
works,  runs  thence  toward  Millbury  by  Seymour  to  Ward,  thence  by 
Suffield  to  Vernon;  east  side  of  Vernon  to  Hayward,  thence  north- 
erly on  a line  to  Chapin,  thence  by  Coral,  east  side,  to  Union 
Depot. 

“St.  Paul’s. — West  side  of  Salem  to  Church  through  Union, 
west  side  to  Lincoln  square;  from  that  point  along  Highland, 

16 


Marginalia 


120 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


Episcopalians. 

The  parishes  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
Massachusetts  are  organized  under  a special  statute. 
This  provides  that  the  rector  or  one  of  the  wardens, 
unless  other  provision  is  made  in  the  by-laws,  may 
preside  at  meetings  with  all  the  powers  of  a moder- 
ator ; and  the  wardens,  or  wardens  and  vestry  may 
exercise  all  the  powers  of  a standing  committee.  To 
secure  as  much  uniformity  as  possible,  the  “ Conven- 
tion ” of  this  church  prints  with  its  annual  journals, 
and  recommends  for  adoption,  a standing  form  of  by- 
laws for  the  government  of  the  parishes.  Among 
other  things  this  Form  provides  that  the  wardens  shall 
be  communicants  and  that  all  officers  shall  be  baptized 
men ; that  the  rector,  wardens,  treasurer,  clerk  and 

southeily  side,  as  far  as  city  limits,  thence  westerly  to  Hammond, 
thence  on  northerly  side  of  Hammond  to  Southbridge. 

“St.  Anne’s. — Mechanic  from  Union  street  to  depot,  along 
northerly  side  of  B.  & A.  R.  R.  to  Shrewsbury ; from  the  Lake 
Quinsigamond  southwesterly  to  Belmont  and  taking  southerly 
side  of  Belmont  to  Lincoln  square ; thence  southerly  by  east  side 
of  Union  street  to  Mechanic  to  point  of  beginning. 

“ Immaculate  Conception. — All  the  territory  north  of  High- 
land, Lincoln  square  and  Belmont  street. 

“Sacred  Heart. — From  Millbury  through  Seymour  south  to 
Ward,  thence  to  Vernon,  thence  westerly  to  Quinsigamond  to 
line  of  Millbury  town,  cross  in  a line  westerly  to  Southbridge 
bounding  Auburn,  thence  to  Camp  street  east  side,  running  thence 
to  Southgate  to  line  of  Norwich  R.  R.  to  Hammond  street,  thence 
by  Gas  Works  to  Millbury  to  Seymour  street. 

“St.  Peter’s. — From  junction  of  Southbridge  and  Hammond 
running  along  westerly  side  of  Hammond  to  city  limits,  thence 
southerly  to  Leicester,  thence  easterly  to  west  side  of  Camp  street, 
thence  northerly  by  line  of  Norwich  R.  R.  to  Hammond. 

“ St.  Stephen’s. — All  the  territory  east  of  centre  of  Coral 
street,  Chapin  street,  and  from  the  line  of  Coral  to  Union  depot. 

“Notre  Dame. — The  French  population  wherever  located  in 
the  city.” 


All  Saints’  Church 

1876 


CHURCHES 


I2I 


vestrymen  shall  constitute  “ the  vestry ; ” and  that  the 
rector  shall  be  chosen  by  the  parish,  or  by  the  vestry, 
when  so  authorized  by  the  parish.  A noticeable 
feature  of  this  Form,  in  its  latest  expression,  is,  that 
“any  person,”  subject  to  the  other  conditions,  may 
become  a member  of  the  parish.  In  earlier  editions  of 
the  Form  the  words  used  are  “ any  male  person.” 
Provision  is  thus  made  for  the  admission  of  women  to 
a partnership  in  the  management  of  Protestant  Episco- 
pal parishes.  This  change  in  the  direction  of  progress 
conforms  also  to  the  statutes  of  the  Commonwealth. 
In  general  but  not  altogether  exact  accordance  with 
these  provisions,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  parishes  in 
Worcester  have  been  organized.  The  oldest,  and  the 
mother  of  the  rest,  is  the  parish  of 

All  Saints. — The  beginnings  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Worcester  are  reported  by  the  late  Judge 
Ira  M.  Barton  in  two  letters  written  in  the  year  1835, 
but  first  printed  in  the  year  1888.  From  this  contem- 
porary and  authentic  source  of  information  it  appears 
that  in  the  former  year  Dr.  Wainwright  visited  Worces- 
ter “ to  see  as  to  the  practicability  of  establishing  a 
church  here.”  An  arrangement  was  then  made  for 
services  in  the  Central  Church,  but  through  a mis- 
understanding it  fell  through.  This  failure  was  less 
discouraging  than  the  difficulty  in  finding  persons  “ to 
sustain  the  burden.”  “ No  such  persons  have  yet 
offered  themselves,”  wrote  Judge  Barton  under  date  of 
October  2d.  A little  later  the  prospect  had  bright- 
ened. Under  date  of  December  13th  he  wrote : “Reg- 
ular church  services  were,  for  the  first  time,  held 
in  Worcester  to-day.”  At  that  first  meeting  there  were 


122 


IV0J?C£ST£J? 


present  “ some  sixty  people.”  The  preacher  on  the 
occasion  was  the  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Vaill,  then  in 
deacon’s  orders  only.  And  now  the  time  had  arrived 
when  this  enterprise  took  to  itself  a body  and  a name 
by  an  act  of  incorporation  under  the  style  of  the 
“ Proprietors  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
Worcester.”  The  act  bears  date  of  April  8,  1836,  and 
the  incorporators  named  in  the  act  are  Thomas  H. 
Vaill,  Ira  Barton  and  Edmund  F.  Dixie.  The  experi- 
ment was  fairly  begun.  For  six  months  Mr.  Vaill  con- 
tinued his  ministrations  and  then  left  “ thoroughly 
discouraged.”  As  the  present  bishop  of  Kansas  he 
still  lives  to  look  back  upon  this  day  of  small  things.^ 
Seven  years  of  silence  followed  his  departure,  when,  in 
1842,  services  were  again  begun,  never  afterward  to  be 
intermitted.  On  Christmas  day  of  that  year  the  Rev. 
Fernando  C.  Putnam  held  a service  in  the  chapel  on 
Thomas  street  belonging  to  the  Central  Church.  Mr. 
Putnam  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Blackaller. 

Thus  far  there  seems  to  have  been  no  parish  organ- 
ization. But  on  the  21st  of  July  1843,  “the  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Society  in  Worcester  ” met  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  S.  P.  Miller,  pursuant  to  a warrant,  and 
organized  under  the  20th  chapter  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  that  day  by  the  election  of  a clerk,  wardens, 
vestrymen  and  treasurer.  At  the  same  meeting  a vote 
was  passed  that  the  name  of  the  society  should  be 
“ All  Saints’  Church  ; ” but  an  article  of  the  constitu- 
tion adopted  a year  or  two  afterward  provided  that 
“ the  name  of  the  Parish  shall  be  All  Saints.”  At  this 


1 The  decease  of  Bishop  Vaill  occurred  in  1889,  after  the  text  was 
in  print. 


CHURCHES 


123 


first  meeting  nine  persons  were  present  and  acting, 
among  whom  was  the  late  Samuel  F.  Haven,  LL.D. 

With  Mr.  Blackaller  as  minister  in  charge,  Thomas 
Bottomly  and  Charles  S.  Ellis  as  wardens  and  Edwin 
Eaton  as  clerk,  the  first  church  of  this  order  was  well 
on  its  foundations.  It  continued,  however,  in  a low 
condition  until  1844,  when  the  Rev.  George  T. 
Chapman,  D.  D.,  came  and  applied  his  sturdy  should- 
ers to  the  work  of  upbuilding.  Dr.  Chapman  had  a 
zeal  for  his  church.  Organizing  and  assisting  churches 
in  various  parts  had  been  his  self-appointed  mission, 
and  now  the  feeble  church  in  Worcester  v/.as  to  feel 
the  good  effects  of  his  help.  Coming  at  Easter,  April 
10,  1844,  he  remained  in  charge  of  the  parish  for  two 
full  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  gave  place 
to  the  Rev.  George  H.  Clark,  who  became  the  first 
regularly  chosen  and  settled  rector  of  All  Saints.  In 
January  1849,  Clark  resigned  because  of  ill  health, 
and  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Tucker  Bent  succeeded  to 
the  office.  Mr.  Bent  remained  till  the  spring  of  1852, 
when  the  Rev.  Archibald  M.  Morrison  became  the 
rector.  At  the  end  of  four  years,  illness  in  his  family 
compelled  him  to  lay  down  his  charge.  A period  of 
three  years  now  elapsed  in  which  All  Saints  was  with- 
out a rector.  In  this  time  the  Rev.  William  H.  Brooks 
and  the  Rev.  Albert  Clark  Patterson  were  the  ministers 
in  charge.  But  in  December  1859,  the  Rev.  E.  W. 
Hager  became  the  rector,  and  so  remained  till  August 
1862,  when  he  resigned  his  place. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1862  began  the  ministry,  of 
the  Rev.  William  Reed  Huntington,  which  was  des- 
tined to  change  the  whole  face  of  things  for  Episco- 
pacy in  Worcester.  His  ministry  of  twenty-one  years 


Marginalia 


124 


WOJ^CESTER 


Marginalia 


was  a period  of  constant  and  rapid  growth.  Dr. 
Huntington  found  his  Church  of  All  Saints  feeble  and 
left  it  strong.  He  found  it  poorly  housed  and  left  it 
rejoicing  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  costly  of 
our  churches.  He  found  it  solitary  and  left  it  the 
mother  of  children,  born  and  to  be  born.  And  yet,  at 
the  close  of  his  ministry,  he  was  moved  to  say  that, 
“ in  the  whole  English-speaking  world  there  is  probably 
not  a city  of  the  size  of  ours  in  which  the  Episcopal 
Church  is  numerically  so  weak  as  ours.”  That  this 
reproach  is  now  measurably  taken  away  is  owing  more 
to  his  agency  and  influence  than  to  any  other.  It  was 
on  the  3d  of  December  1862,  that  Dr.  Huntington  was 
both  ordained  and  inducted  into  the  rectorship  of  All 
Saints.  His  ministry  began  in  the  church  on  Pearl 
street  which  had  been  erected  in  1846  after  plans 
drawn  by  Upjohn  of  New  York.  Dr.  Huntington  des- 
cribed it  as  “ a beautiful  specimen  of  rural  architec- 
ture.” It  remained  as  originally  built  until  i860, 
when  it  was  altered  to  gain  additional  sittings.  In  the 
course  of  twenty-eight  years  it  was  four  times  recon- 
structed; then  on  Easter  night,  April  7,  1874,  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  This  was  the  signal  for  removal 
and  enlargement. 

On  the  15th  of  May  a committee  was  empowered  to 
build  a church  and  chapel ; on  the  29th  of  December 
ground  was  broken  at  the  corner  of  Irving  and  Pleas- 
ant streets ; on  the  13th  of  May  following  the  first 
stone  was  put  in  place ; on  the  21st  of  July  the  corner- 
stone was  laid  ; and  on  the  4th  of  January,  1877,  the 
finished  building  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Paddock. 
Church,  chapel  and  parish  building  are  grouped  in  one 
capacious  structure.  All  the  walls,  including  bell- 


CHURCHES 


125 


tower  and  spire  to  the.  finial,  are  of  red  sandstone. 
The  pulpit  of  the  Pearl  street  church,  a gift  from 
Emanuel  Church  in  Boston,  rescued  from  the  flames 
and  erected  for  use  in  the  new  church,  is  a memorial 
of  continuity;  while  encrusted  in  the  interior  wall  of 
the  tower-porch  are  stone  relics  of  mediaeval  architec- 
tural ornament,  given  by  the  dean  and  chapter  of 
Worcester  (England)  Cathedral,  as  a token  of  “ broth- 
erly regard  and  church  unity.” 

Having  declined  various  calls  from  different  bodies 
to  important  ecclesiastical  offices  — one,  in  1874,  to 
the  office  of  bishop  — Dr.  Huntington  at  length 
accepted  a call  to  the  rectorship  of  Grace  Church  in 
New  York,  and  in  1883  severed  his  long  connection 
with  All  Saints.  By  his  published  writings,  by  his 
unwearied  fidelity  to  his  parochial  charge  and  by  his 
wise  activity  in  the  Church  Conventions,  he  had  come 
to  be  a power  in  his  own  communion. 

Shortly  after  the  termination  of  Dr.  Huntington’s 
service,  the  Rev.  Lawrence  H.  Schwab  became  the 
minister  in  charge.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Hamilton  Vinton,  who  was  chosen  to  be 
the  rector  on  the  28th  of  April  1884,  and  who  assumed 
the  office  in  September  following.  Under  his  ministry 
the  prosperity  of  the  parish  was  continued.  In  1889, 
the  Rev.  E.  S.  Middleton  succeeded  the  Rev.  Arthur 
W.  Hess  as  the  rector’s  assistant ; and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  the  number  of  communicants  was 
reported  to  be  405. 


126 


WORCESTER 


Parish  of  St.  Matthew. — In  the  winter  of  1869  a 
mission  chapel  fund  of  ^721.21  was  raised  from  a 
Christmas  sale  by  the  women  of  All  Saints.  This 
was  the  germ  of  the  parish  of  St.  Matthew.  Additions 
were  made  to  the  fund  from  time  to  time,  and  in  1871 
a mission  was  established  at  South  Worcester.  An 
association  of  communicants  in  All  Saints  was  formed, 
with  the  rector  of  that  parish  as  trustee,  and  by  them 
an  estate  was  bought  at  the  corner  of  Southbridge  and 
Washburn  streets.  On  this  site  a chapel  was  com- 
pleted in  September  of  the  same  year,  and  on  St. 
Matthew’s  day,  February  24,  1875,  it  was  opened  for 
public  worship.  The  Rev.  John  Gregson,  assistant 
minister  at  All  Saints,  was  made  the  minister  in 
charge,  and  he  so  remained  for  nearly  a year.  After 
him  Mr.  Thomas  Mackay  acted  as  lay  reader  until  the 
following  October,  when  the  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Robert- 
son assumed  the  charge  and  continued  in  it  for  a period 
of  nine  months.  Mr.  Mackay  then  resumed  his  post, 
and  with  other  lay  readers  held  services  until  January 
I,  1874,  when  the  Rev.  Henry  Mackay  became  the 
minister  in  charge.  This  continued  until  the  spring 
of  that  year ; then  the  mission  was  organized  into  a 
parish  with  Henry  L.  Parker  and  Matthew  J.  Whittall 
as  wardens.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Mackay  remained  the 
minister  in  charge  until  July  1875.  In  April  1876,  the 
Rev.  Amos  Skeele  was  called  to  the  rectorship,  which 
he  retained  for  several  months;  but  in  April  1877,  the 
church  was  again  without  a rector  and  Sunday  services 
were  cared  for  by  the  Rev.  George  Sturgis  Paine,  of 
Worcester. 

To  him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Alexander  Mackay 
Smith,  the  assistant  at  All  Saints,  by  whom  it  was 


Worcester  Churches 
And  Their  History 


j erect  an  edifice.  This  was  agreed  to 
I and  the  present  building  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Laurel  and  Carroll  streets  was 
put  up  and  dedicated  February  27, 
1849,  under  Rev.  Francis  A.  Gris- 
wold. 

The  church  has  had  a consistently 
prosperous  life  and  in  1890  under 
Rev.  Alonzo  Sanderson,  the  church 
debt  of  $6,648.87  was  entirely  paid  off. 
The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Herbert 
Buckingham,  wfill  have  been  with  the 
church  for  four  years  next  April. 

During  that  time  the  utmost  har- 
mony has  existed  and  the  church 
has  shown  a steady  loyalty  to  the 
pastor.  Three  organizations  have 
come  into  existence  under  Rev.  Mr. 
Buckinigham,  the  Tri-Mu  Club  for 
older  boys,  the  Alpha  Kappa  Phi  for 
the  young  w'omen  and  the  Brother- 
hood Bible  class.  Upwards  of  40  per- 
sons have  joined  the  church  during 
the  present  pastorate,  either  on  con- 
fession or  by  letter  but  deaths  and 
removals  have  nearly  counterbalanced 
the  number  so  that  the  actual  strength 
of  the  church  has  not  erreatly  chang- 


LAUREL  ST 


Organization  of  the  Laurel  Street 
M.  E.  church  was  effected  July  20, 
1845,  when  some  of  those  then  attend- 
ing the  Park  street,  now  Trinity,  M. 

! E.  church,  branched  off  and  formed 
the  Laurel  street  church,  with  60 
members.  Most  of  them  were  resi- 
dents of  a section  of  the  city  some 
distance  removed  from  the  Park  street 
church. 

For  a time  they  worshipped  in  a 
place  on  Thomas  street,  and  then 
moved  to  Waldo  hall.  From  there 
they  returned  to  the  Thomas  street 
chapel  until  the  church  building  was 
completed.  During  the  year  follow- 
ing that  of  organization  the  attend- 
ance ran  from  45  to  131,  and  averaged 
97. 

Rev.  Richard  S.  Rust  was  the  first 
pastor.  Alpheus  M.  Merrifield,  who 
had  just  purchased  Laurel  Hill,  then 
a farm,  offered  the  new  church  a lot 

1 b lo'T’elitv  if  the 


“The  Velie  exhibit  at  the  Grand 
Central  Palace  show  is  a splendid  suc- 
cess and  every  one  is  enthusiastic,” 
wires  Ernest  O.  Wheeler,  manager  of 
the  local  branch.  “Six  of  the  new  1912 
Velie  pleasure  cars  and  four  of  the 
Velie  commercial  cars  are  being  shown. 
Velie  agents  and  prospective  agents 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  have  been 
at  the  Velie  booth  since  the  show  open- 
ed. Many  sales  have  been  closed  and 
contracts  have  been  made  with  agents 
throughout  the  United  States.” 


PROVIDENCE  SHOW  TO 
BE  THE  FINEST  EVER 

When  the  doors  of  the  State  Armory 
in  Providence  are  thrown  open  on 
January  22,  one  of  the  most  complete 
exhibitions  of  automobiles  and  acces- 
sories ever  held  in  New  England  will 
have  commenced.  Not  only  has  all  of 
the  59,000  square  feet  of  exhibition 
space  been  taken  but  other  applica- 
tions for  about  5,000  additional  feet 
have  been  filed  with  Arthur  L.  Lee, 
general  manager  of  the  show,  in  behalf 
of  the  Rhode  Island  Automobile  Licens- 
ed Dealers’  Association. 


To  Cet 
Its  Beneficial  Effects 
Always  Buy  the  Genuine 

Siwfies 


an 


EmiR<^NNA 

(pOfiNM  fl6 

>Sold  by  ail  leading 
Drtigqists 

One>SizeOnIy,50^  a Boide 

Hale's  ■l|| 

Honey  of  J 

Horehound  and  Tar 

for 

i Coughs  and 

^IdS 

Pilce’s  Toofltache  Drojp'' 
Cure  iu  One  Minute 


Finest  C 


Tourir. 

Phaetc 


( 


OVERLAIIp 

PRICi 

Don’t  take  our  word  for  jig 
sition  over.  

MACKER-TYLEll 


CHURCHES 


127 


said,  “wonderful  work  was  done.”'  January  i,  1878, 
the  Rev.  George  Endicott  Osgood  became  the  rector, 
and  in  September  the  church  was  renovated  and  again 
opened  for  public  worship.  All  incumbrances  having 
been  at  length  removed  and  a deed  of  the  land  given 
by  Sumner  Pratt,  St.  Matthew’s  Church  was  consecra- 
ted on  Quinquagesima  Sunday  in  1880.  Mr.  Osgood 
having  resigned  the  rectorship  January  16,  1881,  on 
the  8th  of  April  following  the  Rev.  Julius  PI.  Water- 
bury  became  the  rector,  but  resigned  in  November  of 
the  same  year.  He,  however,  remained  in  charge  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  next  spring.  In  the 
summer  of  1882,  land  for  a parish  building  was  secured 
on  the  corner  of  Southbridge  and  Cambridge  streets, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  season  St.  Matthew’s  Hall 
was  erected  upon  it.  In  August  the  Rev.  Henry 
Hague  became  rector  of  St.  Matthew  and  also  minister 
in  charge  of  St.  Thomas  at  Cherry  Valley.  In  May 
1889,  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Allen  became  rector’s  assistant. 
In  October  1889,  the  number  of  communicants  was 
one  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  and  the  value  of  the 
parish  property  $7,500,  with  $1000  additional  in  bank 
for  future  building  purposes.  Thus,  from  a small 
beginning,  with  a frequently  changing  ministry,  this 
parish  had  slowly  grown  through  a period  of  nineteen 
years,  until  it  appears  to  have  come  to  rest  on  a per- 
manent foundation.  For  its  success  much  was  due  to 
the  fostering  care  of  Dr.  Huntington. 


iNow  the  Ven.  Alex.  Mackay-Smith,  D.  D.,  Archdeacon  of  the 
Diocese  of  New  York,  in  New  York  city. 


Marginalia 


f 


17 


128 


WORCESTER 


Parish  of  St,  John. — This  parish  was  organized  as 
part  of  a broad  and  long-cherished  plan  of  Dr.  Hunt- 
ington. A scheme  of  four  missions,  embryons  of  four 
churches  in  different  sections  of  the  city,  named  after 
the  four  Evangelists,  was  what  he  had  conceived  and 
steadily  aimed  to  realize.  St.  John’s  was  the  second 
in  the  order  of  the  plan.  It  was  begun  by  the  forma- 
tion of  a Sunday-school,  March  ii,  1883,  in  an  upper 
room  on  the  corner  of  Lincoln  Square  and  Main 
street;  and  the  first  church  service  was  held  by  the 
Rev.  Henry  Hague  of  St.  Matthew’s,  on  the  30th  of 
the  same  month.  On  the  6th  of  January  1884,  the 
first  regular  Sunday  service  was  held  by  the  Rev.  John 
S.  Beers,  general  missionary  of  the  diocese.  On  the 
9th  of  March  the  Rev.  Edward  S.  Cross  began  work 
with  the  mission,  and  on  the  13th  of  April  took  formal 
charge.  On  the  21st  of  the  same  month  land  for  a 
church  was  bought  on  Lincoln  street ; on  the  13th  of 
May  ground  was  broken ; and  July  5th  the  corner- 
stone was  laid.  On  the  i8th  of  September  1884,  the 
parish  was  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Cross,  the  minister  in  charge,  preached  his  farewell 
sermon  on  the  19th  of  October,  and  on  the  30th  of 
November,  in  the  same  year,  the  Rev.  Francis  Guild 
Burgess  entered  upon  his  duties  as  the  first  rector  of 
the  new  parish.  Public  worship  in  the  church  was  held 
for  the  first  time  on  Christmas  Day.  For  a time  the 
free  church  system  was  tried,  but  was  soon  abandoned. 
In  the  first  four  months  of  parish  life  the  average  con- 
gregation and  the  number  of  communicants  increased 
two-fold.  This  growth  continued  until,  in  1887,  it  was 
found  desirable  to  enlarge  the  church  in  order  to  gain 
more  sittings.  This  was  accordingly  done  at  a cost 


CHURCHES 


129 


somewhat  exceeding  $2600.  In  1888  the  money  to 
defray  this  cost  had  all  been  subscribed  and  paid.  By 
this  enlargement  the  whole  number  of  sittings  was 
increased  to  308.  At  the  last-named  date  the  church 
and  land  were  valued  at  $17,000,  upon  which  rested  a 
debt  of  $9300.  “ St.  John’s  parishioners,”  said  the  S^. 

JohEs  Echo^  December  1888,  “hope  to  be  able  at  no 
extremely  distant  day  to  erect  upon  the  site  a hand- 
some and  capacious  stone  church.” 

This  year  witnessed  a new  departure  for  Episcopacy 
in  Worcester  by  the  union  of  St.  John’s  with  the 
Central  (Congregational)  Church  in  the  observance  of 
Lent.  Services  were  held  alternately  in  the  two 
churches,  conducted  alternately  by  the  two  ministers. 
Clergymen  from  abroad  were  also  brought  in  to  assist 
in  this  fraternal  recognition,  of  whom  chiefly  to  be 
mentioned  are  the  Rev.  Dr.  Phillips  Brooks  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  E.  Herrick,  both  of  Boston.  If  any 
ill  came  out  of  this  unwonted  fraternization,  it  was 
never  publicly  reported.  On  the  contrary,  the  con- 
tinued prosperity  of  St.  John’s  seemed  to  bear  witness 
that  this  new  departure  was  a safe  step  in  the  line  of 
progress. 

In  April  1889,  the  number  of  communicants  was  210. 


Marginalia 


Parish  of  St.  Mark’s  Church. — In  the  order  of 
time  this  was  the  third  in  the  scheme  of  four  churches 
which  Dr.  Huntington  set  on  foot.  But  not  till  some 
years  after  he  had  gone  from  Worcester  did  a good 
opportunity  for  inaugurating  the  enterprise  present 
itself.  At  length  the  founding  of  Clark  University,  in 


130 


JVORCESTEI^ 


Marginalia 


the  spring  of  1887,  became  the  signal  for  moving. 
That  great  educational  project,  causing  a marked 
advance  in  the  price  of  real  estate  in  the  quarter 
selected  for  St.  Mark’s  Mission,  spurred  on  its  friends 
to  make  haste  and  secure  a suitable  lot  for  church  pur- 
poses. The  purchase  of  a lot  was  the  only  object  of 
the  first  meeting,  which  was  in  September  1887 ; but 
this  very  speedily  led  to  the  formation  of  a mission  by 
the  name  of  St.  Mark’s  Mission.  A place  for  meeting 
was  secured,  and  about  October  ist  a Sunday-school 
was  opened.  Public  worship  was  held  for  the  first 
time  on  the  23d  of  October,  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  H. 
Vinton,  rector  of  All  Saints,  other  clergymen  in  and 
out  of  the  city  assisting.  After  this  date  the  services 
of  the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Nickerson  of  Rochdale  were 
secured.  He  continued  to  officiate  until  the  Easter 
following,  when  the  Rev.  Langdon  C.  Stewardson  took 
charge  of  the  mission.  He  came  fresh  from  a three 
years’  course  of  theological  study  in  the  universities  of 
Germany,  prior  to  which  he  had  been  for  five  years 
rector  of  a church  in  Webster.  “ Under  his  leader- 
ship,” said  a competent  authority,  “the  mission  has 
made  a progress  which  is  believed  to  be  unprecedented 
in  the  history  of  this  diocese.”  The  number  of  com- 
municants, about  forty  at  Easter,  had  nearly  doubled 
within  the  next  five  months.  From  the  beginning  the 
mission  was  independent  and  self-reliant.  No  aid 
from  any  outside  source  was  accepted.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  mission,  in  that  brief  period,  had  raised  out 
of  its  own  resources  the  sum  of  twelve  thousand  two 
hundred  dollars ; the  amount  contributed  for  all  pur- 
poses up  to  Easter  1889,  was  $14,409.45.  With  part  of 
this  the  lot  for  church  and  chapel,  already  spoken  of. 


CHURCHES 


131 

was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Freeland 
streets.  On  the  6th  of  September  1888,  the  corner- 
stone of  the  chapel  to  be  erected  on  this  lot  was  laid, 
a solid  silver  trowel,  given  by  Mrs.  Ellen  Lawson  Card, 
wife  of  its  maker,  being  used  in  the  ceremony.  An 
imposing  aspect  was  given  to  the  occasion.  At  five 
o’clock  in  the  afternoon  nine  clergymen  from  the  city 
and  other  parts,  with  Dr.  Huntington  of  New  York, 
the  originator  of  the  enterprise,  at  their  head,  marched 
down  the  street  in  surplices  and  took  their  places  by 
the  corner-stone.  When  the  ceremonial  act  was  com- 
pleted, Dr.  Huntington  made  a brief  address,  admir- 
able alike  for  its  substance,  expression  and  tone. 
“ Rarely,”  said  he,  “ is  the  building  of  a church  under 
such  assured  circumstances.  You  have  a marvelously 
chosen  building  site,  you  are  in  perfect  harmony 
among  yourselves,  and  your  leader  you  love  and  trust. 
What  more  do  you  want?  Is  it  the  money  to  com- 
plete the  building  ? That  is  a very  doubtful  advan- 
tage. The  very  fact  that  it  is  lacking  is  a spur  to 
never-failing  effort.”  Again  he  said : “ We  lay  this 
stone  in  charity.  If  there  are  any  within  the  hearing 
of  my  voice  not  of  this  household  of  faith  ” (and  there 
were  many)  “let  them  not  feel  disquieted.  We  come 
not  as  destroyers,  but  maintainers  of  peace  ; not  to 
divide,  but  to  unite.  The  Episcopal  Church  sees  in 
itself  a great  reconstructing  influence.  . . . There 

is  one  object,  one  purpose,  and  that  the  purpose  of 
building  up  the  kingdom  of  God.”  The  plan  contem- 
plates in  its  ultimate  realization  a chapel  and  church 
of  red  sandstone  throughout. 

The  parish  of  St.  Mark  was  organized  in  October 
1888.  The  value  of  the  property  in  1889  was  placed 


132 


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at  $27,000.  In  October  of  the  same  year  the  number 
of  communicants  was  100. 


St.  Luke’s  Church,  the  fourth  and  only  one  re- 
maining to  complete  Dr.  Huntington's  quadrilateral  of 
churches,  in  his  own  words  uttered  at  the  laying  of  St. 
Mark’s  corner-stone,  “ bides  its  time.” 


Uniyersalists. 

First  L^niversalist  Church. — The  first  Universal- 
ist  Society  was  formed  on  the  third  day  of  June  1841, 
in  accordance  ^Hth  the  laws  of  Massachusetts.  So 
said  the  Rev.  Stephen  Presson  Landers  in  his  his- 
torical address  a quarter  of  a centur}"  afterwards.  Mr. 
Landers  was  the  first  pastor  and  had  preached  his  first 
sermon  in  Brinlev  Hall  on  the  2d  of  Mav.  In  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1841,  ten  thousand  dollars  were 
' subscribed  for  building  a church.  The  pastor  himself 
subscribed  “ more  than  he  was  worth.”  A ver}*  choice 
and  central  site  on  the  comer  of  Main  and  Foster 
streets  was  bought  for  a little  more  than  $1.25  a square 
foot.  But  “stagnant  water”  caused  delay.  In  1842  a 
I further  subscription  of  more  than  five  thousand  dollars 
j was  added  to  the  former.  Then,  early  in  1843,  ground 
I was  broken,  and  on  the  2 2d  of  November  in  the  same 

I vear  the  house  was  dedicated,  with  a sermon  bv  the 
1 ' 

i Rev.  Dr.  Miner  of  Boston.  On  the  evening  of  the 
I same  day  “was  the  recognition  of  our  small  church,” 
I VTOte  the  historian,  and  also  its  first  communion  with 
! thirty-one  participants.  The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Landers 


CHURCHES 


133 


terminated  on  the  i6th  of  June  1844,  when  he  preached 
his  farewell  sermon.  His  death  occurred  at  Clinton, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  15th  of  April  1876,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  On  the  12th  of  March  1845,  Albert 
Case  was  installed  as  his  successor.  After  somewhat 
more  than  four  years  he  left  his  Worcester  charge  and 
engaged  in  secular  business  of  various  sorts.  He  was 
also  settled  again  for  a time  as  pastor  at  Hingham, 
Mass.  He  died  at  the  age  of  about  seventy  on  the 
29th  of  December  1877.  It  was  noted  of  him,  as  a 
mark  of  great  distinction,  that  he  had,  before  coming  to 
Worcester  “attained  to  the  thirty-third  degree,  the 
highest  of  the  Masonic  grades  in  the  world.”  His 
successor,  the  Rev.  Obadiah  Horsford  Tillotson,  was 
installed  on  the  27th  of  June  1849.  During  his  pastor- 
ate the  increase  of  the  congregation  was  such  as  to 
require  more  sittings  in  the  church.  To  secure  that 
end,  galleries  were  constructed  in  1851.  Mr.  Tillotson 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  the  31st  of  October 
1852.  Meantime  he  had  become  a student-at-law  and 
practitioner  in  the  office  of  Judge  Chapin,  of  Worcester ; 
but  finding  the  pursuit  uncongenial,  he  resumed  his 
former  profession,  to  which  he  devoted  himself  for  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  On  the  19th  of  June  1863,  he 
fell  a victim  to  consumption  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of 
his  age. 

His  successor,  coming  in  April  1853,  was  the 
Rev.  John  Greenleaf  Adams.  After  a highly  successful 
pastorate  of  seven  years  he  gave  place  to  the  Rev. 
Lindley  Murray  Burrington,  who,  after  a year  and  four 
months,  was  compelled  to  resign  because  of  long-contin- 
ued illness.  His  term  of  service  closed  on  the  ist  of 
January  1862. 


134 


WOJ^CESTER 


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To  him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Thomas  Elliot  St.  John, 
who  was  inducted  into  office  on  the  ist  of  April  in  that 
year.  With  him  began  a new  departure.  The  church 
was  reorganized  by  the  adoption  of  a new  Declaration 
of  Faith  and  a Constitution.  This  had  seemed  to  be 
necessary  because  of  changes  growing  out  of  “ removals, 
withdrawals  and  forfeitures.”  Having  put  the  church 
on  this  new  footing,  Mr.  St.  John  closed  his  first 
pastorate  in  June  of  1866  to  become  the  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Chicago.  After  the  intervening  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin  Bowles,  who  came  on  the  ist 
of  October  1866,  and  left  December  i,  1868,  Mr.  St. 
John  resumed  his  old  Worcester  pulpit  on  the  ist  of 
February  1869,  and  continued  to  occupy  it  till  April  i, 
1879.  Within  this  period  the  fine  new  church  edifice 
on  Pleasant  street  was  erected  and  occupied  in  1871. 
The  cost  including  everything  was  $69,560.  After 
leaving  Worcester,  Mr.  St.  John  pursued  his  ministry 
in  various  places  until  the  autumn  of  1881,  when  he 
accepted  a call  to  the  Unitarian  Church  in  Haverhill, 
Mass.  His  successor,  the  Rev.  Moses  Henry  Harris, 
entered  upon  his  ministry  with  this  church  on  the  5th 
of  October  1879.  Mr.  Harris  was  a native  of  Greene, 
in  the  state  of  Maine.  He  was  graduated  from  the 
Canton  Theological  School  in  1867,  and  had  his  first 
settlement  in  the  ministry  at  Brattleborough,  Vt,  in 
1870.  From  that  pastorate  of  nine  years  and  three 
months  he  came  to  Worcester.  In  1885  the  “Win- 
chester Confession  ” was  adopted  by  this  church  as  a 
Declaration  of  Faith  in  place  of  the  Declaration  which 
had  been  adopted  in  1862  ; the  Constitution  was  also 
amended  and  the  list  of  membership  revised.  In 
October  1889,  the  church  embraced  235  members. 


CHURCHES  135 

All  Souls  Church.  — “In  the  spring  of  1883  a 
committee  was  appointed  at  a meeting  of  the  First 
Universalist  Church  to  see  if  a room  could  be  hired  at 
the  south  part  of  the  city  in  which  to  open  a Mission 
Sunday-school  for  the  extension  of  our  church  work 
in  Worcester.”  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Second 
Universalist  Church.  No  suitable  room  could  be 
hired  ; then  two  friends  of  the  cause,  who  “ could  not 
let  the  movement  die  for  want  of  a place,  offered  the 
free  use  of  their  rooms.”  Accordingly,  at  these  rooms, 
in  the  house  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  Russell,  No.  10 
May  street,  the  new  school  was  organized  on  the 
afternoon  of  January  27,  1884.  On  the  Wednesday 
following,  a prayer-meeting  was  inaugurated ; this  and 
preaching  by  Mr.  Harris,  of  the  First  Church,  were 
maintained  alternately  throughout  the  winter.  The 
natural  result  of  this  devotion  to  the  work  was  growth ; 
by  spring  “ more  room  ” was  found  necessary,  and  this 
led  up  to  the  thought  of  building.  Money  was  not 
abundant,  and  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Stone,  seeing  the  need, 
gave  the  land  on  which  to  build  a chapel.  Another 
act  of  encouragement  was  the  gift  of  one  hundred 
dollars  by  the  sister  of  a former  pastor  of  the  First 
Church.  As  the  women  had  been  thus  active  in 
beginning  the  enterprise,  so  they  were  relied  upon  to 
carry  it  forward.  Accordingly,  “ at  a meeting  to  form 
a parish  held  on  the  31st  of  July  1884,”  Mrs.  Stone 
and  Mrs.  Russell  were  appointed  to  obtain  subscrip- 
tions for  the  purpose  of  building  a chapel.  The  result 
of  their  efforts  was  a subscription  of  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  two  dollars.  By  the  last  of 
October  the  building  was  begun  and  before  the  cold 

weather  could  interrupt  was  completed.  In  just  one 

18 


Marginalia 


136 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


year  from  the  time  the  Sunday-school  had  been 
organized  the  chapel  was  dedicated.  This  was  on  the 
27th  of  January  1885.  On  the  21st  of  June  following 
the  church  was  duly  instituted.  During  the  summer 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Lee  H.  Fisher,  a 
student  at  Tufts  College.  His  services  proved  so 
acceptable  that  he  was  engaged  to  continue  them  till 
the  next  annual  meeting. 

On  the  I St  of  April  1886,  the  Rev.  Frederic  W. 
Bailey  entered  upon  his  duties  as  first  pastor  of  All 
Souls.  Mr.  Bailey  immediately  set  about  providing  for 
a church  edifice.  Through  his  efforts  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  four  hundred  dollars  was  pledged  for  the  pur- 
chase of  a lot  on  the  corner  of  Woodland  and  Norwood 
streets.  How  to  raise  the  money  for  the  building  of 
the  church  was  the  next  and  more  pressing  question. 
This  was  happily  solved  by  Mr.  James  A.  Norcross,  of 
the  famous  firm  of  Norcross  Brothers,  builders,  by  a 
gift  equivalent  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars  in  the 
name  of  himself  and  his  wife,  Mary  E.,  upon  three 
conditions:  ist.  That  the  parish  should  raise  seven 
thousand  otherwise  than  by  incumbrance  on  the  prop- 
erty; 2d,  That  a certain  room  in  the  proposed  edifice 
should  be  reserved  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Norcross;  and  3d, 
that  the  following  inscriptions  should  be  placed  on  the 
front  of  the  edifice  : “In  memory  of  our  Fathers  and 
Mothers  who  are  in  Heaven.  Our  hope  is  to  meet 
them  in  that  heavenly  home ; ” and  “All  Souls  Univer- 
salist  Church.”  The  exact  form  of  the  gift  was,  “ all 
the  brownstone  required  for  the  exterior  of  All  Souls 
Universalist  Church  cut  and  set  in  place.”  It  was 
assumed  that  fifteen  thousand  dollars  would  cover  this 
expense.  Mr.  Norcross’  proposition  was  presented  on 


CHURCHES 


137 


the  9th  of  November  1888,  in  a long  letter  full  of 
details.  On  the  20th  All  Souls  Parish  had  a meeting, 
accepted  the  proposal,  unanimously  voted  thanks  to 
the  donors,  and  took  measures  to  comply  with  the  first 
condition.  At  the  close  of  1889,  a large  part  of  the 
required  amount  had  been  pledged.  The  proposed 
building  is  of  unique  design,  of  bold  architecture  and 
studied  simplicity.  The  main  structure  is  to  be  seventy 
feet  square  with  a round  tower  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  high  on  the  corner  of  the  streets.  The  principal 
audience-room  is  designed  to  seat  about  six  hundred 
persons  ; other  rooms  adapted  for  all  modern  church 
requirements  are  embraced  within  the  plan.  It  will  be 
a central  attraction  for  the  important  neighborhood  in 
that  quarter  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Bailey’s  pastoral  relation  terminated  January 
ist,  1889.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Francis  A. 
Gray,  who  entered  upon  his  official  duties  on  the  19th 
of  May  following.  Mr.  Gray  was  born  in  Danvers  on 
the  9th  of  August  1857,  and  was  graduated  at  St. 
Lawrence  University,  Canton,  N.  Y.,  in  1883,  receiving 
there  his  theological  education.  His  previous  pastor- 
ates were  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  Arlington,  Mass. 

In  December  1889,  the  membership  of  the  church 
was  38  and  of  the  Sunday-school  200.  The  prospect 
for  a strong  church  and  parish  was  then  held  to  be 
very  encouraging. 


Marginalia 


Friends. 

“ Meeting  ” and  “ meeting-house  ” are  characteristic 
terms  among  the  Friends.  The  Preparative,  or,  as 
it  is  called  in  England,  Particular  Meeting,  is  the 


138 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


% 


unit.  Several  of  these  constitute  a Monthly  Meeting  ; 
these  in  turn  constitute  a Quarterly  Meeting,  and 
several  Quarterly  Meetings  constitute  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing. The  Monthly  Meeting,  which  is  the  lowest 
corporate  body,  takes  and  holds  property  through 
trustees  of  its  own  appointing,  for  the  benefit  of  its 
Preparative  constituencies.  All  meeting-houses  are  so 
held.  The  Preparative  Meeting  exercises  no  disci- 
pline over  its  members.  Discipline  is  administered  by 
the  Monthly  Meeting  upon  an  overture  or  complaint 
from  the  Preparative  Meeting.  Any  party  not  satis- 
fied with  the  discipline  dealt  out  by  this  body  may 
appeal  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  to  the  Yearly 
Meeting  in  the  last  resort.  There  is  no  salaried 
minister,  no  sacrament,  no  set  singing,  no  voting,  no 
business  official  except  a clerk.  The  clerk  is  the  one 
important  and  sufficient  official.  He  records  no  votes, 
since  there  are  none  to  record ; but  he  “ takes  the 
sense  ” or  consensus  of  the  meeting,  and  makes  a 
minute  of  that.  This  sense  he  gathers  from  what  any 
Friend  may  choose  to  say  at  the  meeting.  Having 
made  his  minute,  he  reads  it,  and  if  it  is  approved 
it  stands  as  the  sense  of  the  meeting;  and  so  standing, 
it  is  as  binding  and  absolute  as  a vote  elsewhere.  In 
this  way  the  clerk  himself  is  made  such.  In  this 
way  one  Friend  may  become  an  “ approved  minister  ” 
and  another,  because  of  bad  behavior,  may  become 
“ disowned.” 

From  i8i6  to  1837  families  of  Friends  residing  in 
Worcester  went  up  to  worship  at  Mulberry  Grove,  in 
Leicester.  At  a later  period  they  obtained  leave  to 
hold  a Particular  Meeting  in  Worcester.  The  place  of 
meeting  at  first  was  in  a room  over  Boyden  & Fenno’s 


.i'll 


CHURCHES 


139 


jewelry  store,  in  Paine’s  Block.  But  in  1846  they 
built  their  present  meeting-house  on  land  given  by 
Anthony  Chase  and  Samuel  H.  Colton,  two  leading 
members  of  the  Society.  After  this  the  Mulberry 
Grove  Meeting  gradually  diminished  and  finally  died 
out.  The  Worcester  Meeting  became  a part  of 
Uxbridge  Monthly  Meeting  of  which  the  Uxbridge  and 
Northbndge  Preparative  Meeting  were  the  remaining 
constituent  parts.  The  Uxbridge  Monthly  Meeting  is 
held  in  the  three  places  just  named  twelve  times  a 
year,  five  of  which  are  in  Worcester.  In  due  grada- 
tion, Uxbridge  Monthly  Meeting  belongs  to  Smithfield 
( R.  I.)  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  this  to  the  New  Eng- 
land Yearly  Meeting,  which  is  now  held  alternately  at 
Newport,  R.  I.,  and  Portland,  Maine. 

The  Worcester  Meeting,  though  small  in  numbers, 
has  included  some  of  the  best  known,  most  worthy  and 
most  prosperous  of  her  citizens.  The  names  of 
Chase,  Colton,  Earle,  Hadwen,  Arnold  and  others 
have  figured  prominently  in  the  past  history  of  the 
city.  Anthony  Chase  was  for  a generation  the  treas- 
urer of  Worcester  County;  John  Milton  Earle  was 
known  far  and  wide  as  the  proprietor  and  editor 
of  that  child  and  champion  of  the  Revolution,  The 
Massachusetts  Spy;  Edward  Earle  became  mayor  of 
the  city.  But  the  Friends  of  Worcester  have  special 
reasons  to  remember  the  name  of  Timothy  K.  Earle 
as  one  of  the  three  principal  benefactors  of  the 
Society.  Choosing  to  be  his  own  executor,  Mr.  Earle, 
shortly  before  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  ist  of 
October  1881,  made  a gift  of  $5000  to  Uxbridge 
Monthly  Meeting,  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  benefit  of 
Worcester  Preparative  Meeting.  The  fund  was  to 


140 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


accumulate  for  ten  years  ; then  the  income  was  to  be 
used  for  repairs  and  improvements  of  the  meeting- 
house. The  surplus  above  what  might  be  used  for 
this  purpose,  when  it  should  reach  the  sum  of  $2000, 
was  to  be  set  aside  as  a fund  for  rebuilding  in  case  of 
fire.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  meeting  should  ever 
come  to  an  end,  the  deed  of  gift  provided  that  the 
fund  should  be  made  over  to  the  Friends’  New  Eng- 
land Boarding  School  at  Providence.  Other  gifts 
from  other  sources  and  for  other  purposes,  but  of  less 
amounts,  are  also  held  in  trust  for  this  meeting. 

The  clerk  for  a quarter  of  a century,  first  of  the 
Worcester  Meeting,  and  then  of  the  Uxbridge  Monthly 
Meeting,  is  James  G.  Arnold,  a lineal  descendant, 
through  intermediate  and  unbroken  generations  of 
Friends,  of  Thomas  Arnold,  the  earliest  emigrant  of 
the  name  and  faith  into  the  Providence  and  Rhode 
Island  Plantations.  But  it  must  be  said  that  the 
present  prospects  of  the  body  do  not  justify  the 
expectation  that  the  future  will  be  as  the  past.  The 
number  of  members  reported  is  about  eighty,  and 
this  is  less  than  it  has  been. 


Second  Adventists. 

The  Second  Advent  movement  in  Worcester  was 
made  in  anticipation  of  the  fateful  15th  of  February 
1843.  Thanksgiving  Day  in  1842,  a meeting 

was  held  in  East  City  Hall,  at  which  a committee 
was  appointed  to  secure  a hall  and  hire  preachers. 
Thenceforward,  for  a period  of  time,  meetings  were 


CHURCHES 


141 

held  almost  every  evening.  For  a part  of  the  time  the 
“ Upper  City  Hall  ” was  occupied  as  the  place  of 
meeting.  When  the  15th  of  February  came  and  went 
and  the  sun  continued  to  rise  and  set  as  usual,  the 
time  for  the  world’s  crisis  was  adjourned  to  a day 
in  April.  Disappointment  then  led  to  further  adjourn- 
ments, but  as  time  wore  on  and  showed  no  sign  of 
coming  to  an  end,  the  Adventists,  who  had  been 
gathered  out  of  almost  every  denomination,  gradually 
consolidated  into  a regular  church  organization.  For 
the  first  seven  or  eight  years  no  records  were  kept, 
because  it  was  held  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  funda- 
mental idea  of  Adventism.  The  first  record  appears 
under  the  date  of  April  14,  1850,  and  the  first  important 
thing  recorded  was  the  one  Article  of  Association, 
which  served  as  the  basis  of  organization.  This  was 
in  the  nature  of  both  creed  and  covenant.  “The 
personal  advent  and  reign  of  Christ  on  the  earth 
renewed,”  was  the  distinguishing  belief ; and  the 
solemn  agreement  to  be  governed  by  the  Bible  as  the 
rule  of  faith  and  practice  was  the  only  covenant. 
Religious  services  were  held  in  various  halls  until  the 
year  1866,  when  a chapel  was  built  and  dedicated.  The 
building  was  erected  on  leased  land  on  Central  street, 
at  a cost  of  $3,113.28.  The  dedication  took  place  on 
the  14th  of  June.  A succession  of  elders  ministered 
to  the  church  until  the  15th  of  December  1870,  when 
Elder  S.  G.  Mathewson  was  called  to  serve  “ one  half 
the  time.”  He  remained  in  charge  till  October  17, 
1875,  when  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon.  Of  late 
years  preachers  have  been  supplied  by  a committee 
chosen  for  that  purpose.  In  1883  the  chapel  was  sold, 
and  a hall  for  religious  services  secured  in  Clark’s 


142 


WORCESTER 


Block,  on  Main  street.  In  1877  the  membership  was 
one  hundred  and  forty-five,  and  one  hundred  and 
eighty-five  in  1888.  The  amount  of  money  annually 
raised  for  current  expenses  and  care  of  the  poor  of  the 
church  exceeds  $2000,  while  contributions  are  made 
for  missions  abroad,  and  particularly  for  those  in 
India. 


Disciples  of  Christ. 

The  church  of  which  the  lamented  Garfield  was  a 
minister  is  an  exotic  in  New  England.  It  had  its 
origin  in  western  Pennsylvania  and  eastern  Ohio  in 
the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Thence  it 
spread  through  the  Southwest  and  West  until,  in  1888, 
the  number  of  communicants  in  the  United  States  was 
reported  to  be  about  seven  hundred  thousand.  Six 
universities,  thirty-one  colleges  and  six  collegiate  insti- 
tutes provide  the  denomination  with  the  higher  educa- 
tional facilities;  while  fifty-nine  missions  in  Japan, 
China,  India,  Turkey,  Africa  and  Australia,  as  well  as 
other  missions  in  various  European  countries,  attest 
their  zeal  in  the  propagation  of  their  faith.  The 
central  principle  of  the  denomination  is  the  union  of 
all  Christians  on  the  basis  of  the  Apostolic  Church 
with  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ  as  the  only  object  of 
faith.  Hence,  discarding  all  sectarian  names,  they 
choose  to  denominate  themselves  simply  “ Disciples  of 
Christ.”  They  hold’  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  the 
gospel  but  not  in  the  terminology  of  the  schools.  They 
abjure  speculative  tenets  touching  Trinity  and  Unity 
but  adhere  to  the  “ form  of  sound  words  ” given  in  the 


CHURCHES 


143 


Scriptures  concerning  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Their  polity  is  congregational,  but  they 
are  not  Congregationalists.  Their  distinguishing  tenet 
is  of  baptism,  but  they  are  not  altogether  Baptists. 
They  agree  with  the  Baptists  as  to  the  mode  and  sub- 
jects of  baptism,  but  differ  as  to  its  design.  While  the 
Baptists  baptize  believers  because  they  are  forgiven, 
the  Disciples  baptize  them  in  order  to  secure  the 
promised  forgiveness.  “ He  that  believeth  and  is 
baptized  shall  be  saved.”  The  state  of  salvation 
follows,  not  precedes,  the  baptizing  as  well  as  the 
believing.  Baptism  will  not  save  if  repentance  and 
faith  are  wanting.  Baptismal  regeneration  they  deny. 
Baptism  is  the  only  form  necessary  for  admission  into 
the  church  ; there  is  no  creed  nor  covenant.  No  one 
is  excluded  from  the  Lord’s  Supper,  and  this  is  observed 
every  Lord’s  Day.  The  New  Testament  is  held  to  be 
the  sole  book  of  authority ; the  Old  Testament  is 
helpful,  but  not  now  authoritative. 

Only  one  church  of  this  order  exists  in  Worcester. 
It  was  organized  on  the  5th  of  August  i860,  with  two 
elders  in  charge  of  its  spiritual  interests,  and  two  dea- 
cons in  charge  of  its  temporal  interests.  There  was 
no  parish  organization,  but  the  church  itself  was  incor- 
porated with  trustees  annually  chosen  to  hold  the 
property.  Their  first  house  of  worship  was  the  old 
Central  Chapel  on  Thomas  street.  But  the  surround- 
ings were  unfavorable  and  they  felt  hampered  in  their 
work.  They  therefore,  in  September  1885,  sold  that 
property,  and  while  making  ready  to  build  occupied 
the  old  Central  Church  on  Main  street  as  a place  of 
worship.  In  the  next  month  they  purchased  a lot  on 
Main  street  opposite  King,  and  there  proceeded  to 

19 


Marginalia 


144 


WOI^CESTEI^ 


erect  an  attractive  church  edifice  at  a cost  in  all  of 
twenty-three  thousand  dollars.  Its  dedication  took 
place  on  the  13th  of  September  1886.  In  the  twenty- 
eight  years  of  its  existence,  the  church  had  had  for  its 
ministers,  William  H.  Hughes,  William  Rowzee,  Alan- 
son  Wilcox,  J.  M.  Atwater,  T.  W.  Cottingham,  Frank 
N.  Calvin,  and  I.  A.  Thayer,  who  came  from  New 
Castle,  Pennsylvania,  began  his  work  in  Worcester  in 
October  1887,  and  gave  it  up  in  1889.  To  none  of 
these  do  they  apply  the  epithet  Reverend,  as  the 
distinction  of  clergy  and  laity  is  not  recognized.  In 
1888  the  membership  of  the  church  was  three  hundred 
and  seventy-three  and  that  of  the  Sunday-school  two 
hundred  and  fifty.  In  the  beginning  of  the  1890  Mr. 
Chamberlin  succeeded  Mr.  Thayer  in  the  work  of  this 
ministry. 


Free  Baptists. 

Two  tenets — free  will  and  free  communion  — dis- 
tinguish the  Free  Baptists  from  other  Baptists.  They 
might  perhaps  be  named  the  Arminian  Baptists  and 
the  others  the  Calvinistic  Baptists ; but  those  names 
would  not  mark  the  radical  distinction  growing  out  of 
the  terms  of  communion.  Enough  that  each  has 
chosen  its  own  name  ; “ Baptists,”  pure  and  simple, 
and  “ Free  Baptists.”  This  denomination  had  its 
origin  in  New  Hampshire  somewhat  more  than  a 
century  ago.  Benjamin  Randall  had  been  a Congre- 
gationalism afterwards  became  a Baptist,  and  then,  by 
adopting  and  preaching  the  doctrines  of  the  freedom 
of  the  will  and  free  communion,  became  the  founder  of 


CHURCHES 


145 


the  Free  Baptist  denomination.  This  was  in  1780. 
Within  the  century  following,  churches  of  this  faith 
multiplied  and  spread  east  and  west,  until  now  the 
membership  throughout  the  country  is  reported  to 
exceed  eighty  thousand.  In  the  county  of  Worcester 
there  are  three  churches,  one  of  which  is  in  the  city. 
The  first  preliminary  meeting  here  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Newell  Tyler,  on  the  14th  of  September  1880. 
Meetings  continued  to  be  held  at  intervals  until  the 
7th  of  April  1881,  when  the  church  was  duly  organized 
with  thirty  members.  It  continued  to  live  without 
parish  powers  until  the  3d  of  August  1887,  when 
by-laws  were  adopted  preparatory  to  incorporation 
under  Chapter  404  of  the  Acts  of  that  year.  On  the 
I St  day  of  September  following  the  church  became  a 
corporation  by  the  name  of  the  “ First  Free  Baptist 
Church  of  Worcester.”  The  Rev.  A.  J.  Eastman,  who 
had  been  the  originator  of  the  movement,  was  installed 
on  the  7th  of  April  1887,  as  the  first  pastor,  and  so 
continued  for  one  year.  The  second  pastor  was  the 
Rev.  H.  Lockhart.  His  term  began  on  the  ist  of  May 
1883,  and  terminated  on  the  ist  of  March  1887.  On 
the  1 8th  of  May  following  the  Rev.  D.  D.  Mitchell 
became  the  pastor  and  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1889  when  he  resigned.  The  place  of  worship  is  “ Free 
Baptist  Hall,”  in  Clark’s  Building,  492  Main  street. 


African  Churches, 

African  Methodist  Zion’s  Church. — This  church 
was  organized  in  1846.  Its  first  place  of  worship  was 
the  “ Centenary  Chapel,”  which  had  been  erected  on 


146 


WORCESTEJ^ 


Exchange  street  in  1840,  and  which,  at  a later  day, 
came  into  the  hands  of  Zion’s  Church.  The  house  was 
dedicated  for  this  church  in  the  year  of  its  organiza-  , 
tion.  Rev.  Alexander  Posey  was  the  first  pastor.  To 
him  succeeded  the  Rev.  Levin  Smith,  in  1849. 
third  and  most  noteworthy  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  A. 
Mars.  In  1854  the  house  was  burned  in  the  great  fire  ' 
of  that  year.  In  July  1855,  another  house  was  begun, 
and  by  the  25th  of  September  was  completed  and 
dedicated.  A large  part  of  the  money  for  this  expense 
was  collected  by  Mr.  Mars  outside  the  society.  After 
him  came  a succession  of  pastors  whose  names  have 
not  been  obtained. 


African  Methodist  Episcopal  Bethel  Church.^ 
This  church  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1867  in  j 
Lincoln  House  Hall.  Dr.  Brown  was  a leading  spirit  | 
in  the  enterprise  and  continued  to  manage  until  a ^ 
pastor  was  assigned.  The  original  membership  of  the  ] 
church  was  fourteen.  The  first  pastor  assigned  by  the 
Conference  was  Rev.  Joshua  Hale,  whose  term  of  0 
service  was  two  years.  After  him  came  in  succession  „ 
twelve  pastors,  whose  names  were  Mr.  Johnson,  James  | 
Madison,  Perry  Stanford,  Ebenezer  Williams,  Jeremiah 
B.  Hill,  Joseph  Taylor,  Elijah  P.  Grinage,  D.  A.  Porter,  I 
Charles  Ackworth,  Mr.  Grandy,  A.  W.  Whaley,  Mr.  '\ 
Thomas  and  G.  B.  Lynch.  Then  in  1887,  Rev.  J.  B.  i 
Stephens  was  appointed  to  the  charge,  which  he  wasi 
keeping  at  the  close  of  1888.  For  a number  of  years  ” 
their  place  of  worship  was  at  the  corner  of  Hanover  I 
and  Laurel  streets.  But  in  1887  that  property  was  J 
lost  to  the  society  and  since  then  their  place  of  worship  i 


CHURCHES 


147 


has  been  at  302  Main  street.  The  number  of  com- 
municants in  1888  was  twenty-five  and  the  number  of 
families  eight. 


Mount  Olive  Baptist  Church  was  a child  of  the 
Worcester  Baptist  City  Mission  Board.  At  first  and 
for  some  years  it  was  maintained  as  a mission.  But 
the  brethren  of  the  mission  having  repeatedly  asked 
for  organization  and  recognition  as  an  independent 
church,  the  Board  at  length  yielded  to  their  wishes. 
Accordingly,  on  the  24th  of  February  1885,  a council 
of  the  city  Baptist  Churches  convened  in  the  Pleasant 
Street  Church  and  after  due  examination  of  twenty-two 
persons  constituted  them  a church  with  the  above 
name.  For  a long  time  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Simmons 
served  them  in  the  gospel  without  compensation. 
Then  they  set  about  procuring  a pastor.  On  the  24th 
of  March  1887,  at  their  request,  a council  convened 
for  the  purpose  of  ordaining  Hiram  Conway,  a student 
in  Newton  Theological  Seminary,  to  the  Mount  Olive 
ministry.  His  examination  having  proved  satisfactory, 
his  ordination  and  recognition  as  pastor  took  place  on 
the  29th  in  the  Pleasant  Street  Church.  In  the 
summer  of  the  same  year  house  No.  43  John  street, 
with  the  connected  lot,  was  purchased  and  fitted  for 
public  worship  at  a cost  of  about  one  thousand  dollars. 
On  the  loth  of  October  1889,  a membership  of  forty- 
four  persons  was  reported. 

The  number  of  persons  of  African  blood  in  Worces- 
ter by  the  census  of  1885  was  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-three;  in  1889  the  number  was  thought  to  be 
not  less  than  one  thousand. 


148 


WOjRCESTEjR 


Christadelphians. 

The  Christadelphians,  or  “ Brethren  of  Christ,”  con- 
stitute a small  body  in  Worcester.  The  order  had  its 
origin  in  the  year  1832.  Its  founder  was  John  Thomas, 
M.  D.,  of  New  York,  who  believed  and  proclaimed  that 
the  teaching  of  Christ  was  for  the  first  time  discovered 
in  this  nineteenth  century  by  himself.  Dr.  Thomas 
became  an  itinerant,  and  went  through  the  United 
States  and  the  British  Empire  publishing  his  new-found 
gospel.  Disciples  were  made  and  are  to  be  found 
scattered  through  this  country.  Great  Britain,  Australia 
and  India.  Their  belief  will,  perhaps,  best  be  seen  by 
what  they  do  not  believe.  In  their  own  printed  words, 
then,  “ Christadelphians  do  not  believe  in  the  Trinity, 
in  the  co-equality  and  co-eternity  of  Jesus  with  the 
Deity,  in  the  existence  of  Jesus  before  his  conception 
at  Nazareth,  in  the  personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in 
the  personality  of  the  devil,  in  the  immortality  of  the 
soul,  in  the  transportation  of  saints  to  heaven  and 
sinners  to  hell  after  death,  in  eternal  torments,  in  baby 
sprinkling  and  pouring,  in  infant  and  idiot  salvation, 
in  Sabbatarianism,  in  salvation  by  good  works  apart 
from  the  gospel,  in  salvation  without  baptism,  in  the 
validity  of  baptism  where  the  gospel  was  not  under- 
stood and  believed  at  the  time  of  its  administration,  in 
conversion  apart  from  the  intelligent  apprehension  of 
the  Word,  in  the  conversion  of  the  world  by  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel.  They  do  not  believe  that  the 
Old  Testament  has  been  set  aside  by  the  New,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  they  base  their  faith  on  the  writings  of 
Moses,  the  Prophets  and  the  Apostles  comprehensively 
viewed,  and  reject  everything  contrary  to  their  teaching.” 


CHURCHES 


149 


To  this  non-belief  they  add  the  belief  that  “ the  I 
faith  of  Christendom  is  made  up  of  the  fables  predicted 
by  Paul  in  2 Timothy  4 : 4,  and  is  entirely  subversive 
of  the  faith  once  for  all  delivered  to  the  saints.”  They 
have  no  pastors,  deacons  or  paid  officers,  but  in  the 
place  of  them  have  “ serving  brethren,  presiding  breth- 
ren and  speaking  brethren.” 

The  first  meeting  of  the  “ ecclesia  ” in  Worcester  was 
held  in  Temperance  Hall,  on  Foster  street,  in  1867. 
In  the  beginning  there  were  only  twelve  members. 
This  number  increased  in  a few  years  to  about  sixty, 
then  in  twelve  years  fell  back  to  twenty-two.  The 
place  of  meeting  in  1889  was  Reform  Club  Hall,  460 
Main  street.  The  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  covers  the  current  yearly  expenses. 


Swedish  Churches, 

By  the  census  of  1875  there  were  then  one  hundred 
and  sixty-six  Swedes  and  Norwegians  in  the  city  of 
Worcester.  In  1889  the  number  was  estimated  to  be 
not  less  than  seven  thousand.  For  this  rapidly-growing 
part  of  the  population  five  churches  have  already  been 
provided.  Two  of  these  are  Methodist  churches,  one 
is  Baptist,  one  Congregational  and  one  Lutheran. 
The  oldest  is  the 

First  Swedish  M.  E.  Church. — Work  was  begun 
among  the  Swedes  in  Worcester  as  early  as  1876  by 
the  Rev.  Albert  Ericson  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By  him 
a church  was  organized,  to  which  the  Rev.  Otto 


WORCESTER 


150 

Anderson  afterwards  preached.  In  the  fall  of  1879 
Mr.  Ericson  removed  to  Worcester,  resumed  his  work  f 
and  remained  in  charge  till  1882,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  D.  S.  Sorlin.  In  1883  a church 
was  erected  at  Quinsigamond  at  a cost,  including  the  : 
lot,  of  six  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars,  and  was  ^ 
dedicated  on  the  31st  of  March  1884.  In  the  same 
year  the  Rev.  C.  A.  Cederberg  was  appointed  assistant  ' 
preacher  and  in  the  year  following  the  pastor  in  charge. 

In  1887  the  Rev.  Albert  Haller  was  appointed  to  ' 

• * t 

succeed  him,  and  in  1888  Rev.  Victor  Witting  was  put  4 
in  charge. 


The  Second  Swedish  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  ' 
on  the  9th  of  April  1885.  This  church,  a colony  from 
the  First,  embraced  ninety-four  members,  including 
twenty-nine  on  probation.  With  these  came  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sorlin,  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  under  appoint-  J 
ment  as  pastor  of  the  new  organization.  On  the  ist  of 
September  1885,  the  church  took  possession  of  the 
chapel  on  Thomas  street,  which  had  been  purchased 
from  the  Christ  Church  Society  for  eight  thousand 

i 

dollars.  By  two  successive  additions  at  a cost  of  three  j 
thousand  four  hundred  dollars,  a seating  capacity  for  ; 
more  than  five  hundred  was  obtained;  nor  was  this  '.b 
found  to  be  sufficient.  The  growth  of  the  society  had  >' 

been  so  rapid  that  in  November  1888,  there  was  a f 

■ 

membership  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-five.  On  the 
29th  of  May  1887,  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Eklund  of  Stock- 
holm,  Sweden,  became  the  pastor  in  charge.  His 
ministry  resulted  in  great  spiritual  and  material  en-  jb 
largement.  -J* 


Swedish  Cong’l  Church 

1884 


Worcester  Daily  Telegram  Sat.,  Nov.  23,  1968 


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CHURCHES 


The  Swedish  Evangelical  Congregational 
Church  in  Worcester  had  its  root  in  the  Free  Church 
movement  in  Sweden.  This  movement  began  about 
1869  under  Rev.  P.  Waldenstrom,  D.D.,  who  had  been 
a minister  of  the  Lutheran  or  State  Church.  Under 
his  vigorous  lead  the  membership  of  this  Free  Church 
had  grown  in  the  course  of  sixteen  years  to  be  one 
hundred  thousand.  Some  of  this  communion  having 
emigrated  to  this  country  had  found  a home  in  Worces- 
ter. In  May  1880,  a few  of  these  people  began  to 
meet  for  prayer  and  conference  on  Messenger  Hill, 
while  others  met  at  Quinsigamond  and  elsewhere.  In 
June,  Rev.  A.  G.  Nelson,  pastor  of  a Swedish  Free 
Church  in  Campello,  Mass.,  came  by  invitation  and 
held  several  meetings.  On  the  15th  of  August  the  hall 
at  386  Main  street,  over  the  Gazette  office,  was  hired 
for  religious  services.  Some  old  settees  were  borrowed 
from  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  while  a small  yellow  table,  still 
preserved  as  a memorial  of  that  day  of  small  things, 
was  bought  and  used  for  a “ pulpit.”  In  this  place,  on 
the  6th  of  September  1880,  the  Swedish  Free  Church 
was  organized,  and  here,  on  the  26th,  Mr.  Nelson 
held  the  first  Sunday  service.  In  October  the  Rev. 
George  Wiberg  was  called  from  Iowa  to  become  the 
first  pastor.  In  May  1881,  the  church,  finding  the  hall 
on  Main  street  too  narrow,  removed  its  place  of  wor- 
ship to  a hall  in  Warren’s  Block,  near  Washington 
Square.  On  the  19th  of  August  in  the  same  year  a 
council,  finding  this  Free  Church  in  substantial  accord 
with  its  own,  gave  it  a cordial  welcome  to  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  Congregational  Churches.  Only  one  other 
Swedish  Congregational  Church  then  existed  in  the 

country,  that  one  being  in  Iowa.  On  the  14th  of 

20 


ATarginalia 


152 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


January  1882,  a parish  was  duly  organized  in  the 
office  of  Hon.  Henry  L.  Parker,  in  Flagg’s  building, 
under  a warrant  issued  by  him.  Membership  in  the 
church  was  made  a condition  of  membership  in  the 
parish.  In  November  1883,  Mr.  Wiberg  resigned  his 
charge,  and  on  the  ist  of  December  following,  Mr. 
Nelson,  the  first  preacher  to  the  church,  became  its 
second  pastor.  Leaving  in  July  1885,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Eric  Nillson,  who  began  his  work 
on  the  first  Sunday  in  August  of  that  year  and  was 
dismissed  on  the  6th  of  December  1888.  At  the 
same  time  occurred  the  installation  of  the  Rev.  Karl 
F.  Ohlsson,  who  had  been  called  from  Hedemora, 
Sweden,  to  the  Worcester  church.  Its  membership 
was  then  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

As  early  as  1882  this  Swedish  church  enterprise  had 
enlisted  the  lively  sympathies  of  the  Congregational 
body  of  the  city,  and  a movement  was  then  initiated  to 
erect  a church  edifice.  Through  a building  committee, 
of  which  S.  R.  Heywood  was  chairman  and  G.  Henry 
Whitcomb  treasurer,  the  money  was  raised,  a commo- 
dious edifice  erected  on  Providence  street,  near  Union 
R.  R.  Station,  and  on  the  25th  of  January  1885,  was 
dedicated  with  services  by  nearly  all  the  Congregational 
pastors  of  the  city.  The  cost,  including  land  and 
furnishing,  was  nine  thousand  three  hundred  and 
ninety-five  dollars,  of  which  the  Swedes  contributed 
one  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety-five.  As  they 
gain  financial  strength  the  whole  cost  will  probably  be 
assumed  by  the  parish. 

A most  active,  efficient  and  leading  person  in  all 
this  enterprise  was  Dea.  John  A.  Corneli.  He  had 
been  a Lutheran  and  been  urged  by  his  Lutheran 


j 


CHURCHES 


153 


pastor  in  Boston  to  forward  that  interest  on  coming 
to  Worcester.  Being,  however,  converted  at  one  of 
Major  Whittle’s  meetings,  he  had  left  the  Lutherans 
and  united  with  the  Summer  Street  Church.  After- 
wards he  took  a dismission  from  that  church  to  assist 
in  building  up  the  church  of  his  Swedish  brethren.  To 
him  both  its  spiritual  and  temporal  prosperity  was 
largely  due. 

On  the  23d  of  June  1889,  the  great  Swedish  leader 
Rev.  Dr.  Waldenstrom  appeared  in  Worcester  to  the 
great  delight  of  his  countrymen.  Three  times  during 
the  day  he  preached  to  them  in  Swedish,  Mechanics 
Hall  being  densely  crowded  each  time.  His  affiliation 
being  with  the  Congregationalists,  he  was  brought  into 
special  relation,  while  here,  with  the  city  pastors  of  that 
body.  On  the  following  day  he  took  his  departure  for 
the  west.  In  October  1889  the  membership  of  this 
church  was  265. 


The  Swedish  Baptist  Church  grew  out  of  a 
movement  begun  in  1879.  that  year  Mr.  Anderson, 
a Swede,  came  from  the  Union  Temple  Church  in 
Boston  and  united  with  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Worcester.  Soon  he  had  a Sunday-school  class  of  six 
or  eight  Swedes.  Then  he  and  his  countrymen  began 
to  hold  meetings  in  the  vestry  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church.  In  1881,  the  Swedish  Baptist  Church  was 
constituted  with  a body  of  nine  members.  The  Baptist 
City  Mission  Board  now  came  to  their  help,  and  board 
and  church  co-operated  in  hiring  a hall  for  religious 
services  in  Clark’s  Block,  now  Walker  Building.  In 


154 


W0RCESTE2^ 


1882,  Rev.  Peter  A.  Hjelm  was  called  from  Sweden  to 
the  pastorate.  He  remained  till  near  the  close  of  the 
year  1888,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  L. 
Kalberg,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  P. 
Sward  in  1889.  The  Mission  Board  had  built,  in  1885, 
a chapel  on  Mulberry  street  at  a cost,  including  land, 
of  $9500.  Of  this  amount  the  church  from  the  first 
assumed  $3000;  in  the  end  of  1888  that  body  had 
become  so  prosperous  that  it  resolved  to  relieve  the 
board  entirely.  In  October  1889  the  membership  had 
increased  to  about  two  hundred  and  forty-seven. 


The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Gethsem- 
ANE  Church  was  organized  in  1881.  In  1882  the 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Cesander  became  the  pastor.  He  was 
succeeded  in  1883  by  the  Rev.  Martin  J.  Englund,  who 
was  ordained  on  the  17th  of  June.  In  the  same  year 
the  church  was  erected  on  Mulberry  street  at  a cost  of 
about  $15,000.  The  Rev.  Oscar  M.  Holmgrain  was 
Mr.  Englund’s  successor,  being  installed  in  October  or 
November  1885.  The  installation  of  his  successor. 
Rev.  S.  G.  Larson,  took  place  in  April  1888.  The 
Augsburg  Confession  is  the  basis  of  the  church  organi- 
zation. The  membership  in  1888  was  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy. 


Swedish  Unitarians. — Twenty-five  years  ago,  the 
writings  of  Dr.  Channing  were  translated  into  Swedish 
and  circulated  in  Sweden.  They  found  sympathetic 


CHURCHES 


155 


readers ; and  at  Gothenburg,  perhaps  elsewhere,  an 
association  was  formed  by  those  who  accepted  the 
Channing  doctrine.  At  a later  period  application  was 
made  for  ecclesiastical  recognition  by  the  state;  but 
this  was  not  granted.  One  or  two  of  these  disciples 
who  had  become  resident  in  Worcester,  notably  Gideon 
Carlstrom,  with  others,  began  in  the  summer  of  1889  to 
agitate  the  matter  of  an  organization  here.  The  result 
was,  the  formation  in  October  of  an  association  for 
religious,  moral  and  social  purposes,  under  the  name 
of  De  Fornuftstroe7ides  Sa7nfund,  which  being  translated 
literally,  is  “ The  Reason-believers’  Society.”  A good 
moral  character  and  the  payment  of  a stipulated 
monthly  sum  were  the  only  conditions  of  membership. 
In  October,  the  number  of  members  was  about  forty. 
The  officers  were  H.  Orup,  president ; Gideon  Carl- 
strom, vice  president ; N.  Dahlguist,  secretary,  and 
Gustav  Lof,  treasurer.  Services  were  held  every  Sun- 
day evening  with  occasional  preaching  by  clergymen. 
Among  these  have  been  the  Rev.  Calvin  Stebbins  of 
the  Church  of  the  Unity  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  A. 
Dyberg,  the  Swedish  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Unitarian 
Church  in  Providence,  R.  I.  The  latter  was  engaged 
to  supply  preaching  regularly  through  the  month  of 
January  1890. 


Jews, 

Polish  Jews  began  to  multiply  in  Worcester  about 
the  year  1874.  In  1888  the  number  of  souls  was 
thought  to  be  not  less  than  five  hundred.  There  are 


156 


WORCESTER 


among  them  two  incorporated  religious  societies.  The 
oldest  of  these  made  an  attempt  to  become  incorpora- 
ted in  1880,  which,  through  no  fault  of  the  society, 
resulted  in  failure  to  obtain  what  they  sought.  But  in 
1888  the  society  became  a corporate  body  by  the 
name  which  it  had  borne  from  the  first,  viz : 

Sons  of  Israel. — The  method  of  admission  to  the 
synagogue,  or  church,  is  by  ballot  after  the  candidate 
has  been  proposed  and  personally  examined  as  to  his 
fitness.  Five  black  balls  defeat  an  election.  Member- 
ship involves  an  obligation  to  make  certain  annual 
payments,  and  secures  certain  pecuniary  advantages 
touching  sickness  and  burial.  A prime  requisite  for 
membership,  whether  in  the  outset  or  in  continuance, 
is  financial  integrity.  This  society  has  had  five  minis- 
ters. The  first  was  M.  Metzer  who  came  in  1880. 
After  him  came  M.  Touvim  in  1882  ; M.  Binkovich  in 
1884;  M.  Newman  in  1885,  and  M.  Axel  S.  Jacobson 
in  1887.  In  1888  a synagogue  was  built  on  Green 
street  at  a cost  of  $11,000,  including  land,  and  was 
occupied  for  religious  services  in  August  of  that  year. 
About  fifty  persons  are  members  of  the  synagogue  and 
two  hundred  belong  to  the  congregation.  The  syna- 
gogue possesses  three  rolls  of  the  five  books  of  Moses 
written  on  parchment,  the  finest  of  which  cost  $150. 
The  second  society  is  named 

Sons  of  Abraham. — It  became  incorporated  in 
1886.  Besides  Polish  Jews  it  embraced  some  of 
Swedish  nationality.  Those  constituting  the  society 
went  out  from  the  older  body  because  of  lack  of  agree- 
ment on  certain  matters.  But  their  organization  and 


, CHURCHES 


157 


doctrine  and  way  of  the  synagogue  are  the  same.  In 
1888  a synagogue  of  brick  was  erected  by  this  society 
on  Plymouth  street,  and  was  ready  for  occupation  by 
the  end  of  that  year.  The  cost  of  this,  with  the  land, 
was  also  about  $11,000.  In  that  year  the  membership 
was  said  to  be  forty.  This  synagogue,  like  the  other, 
is  the  possessor  of  several  copies  of  the  Torah^  or  Law 
of  Moses,  executed  in  the  same  costly  style,  and  kept 
in  an  ark  or  chest  for  use  in  the  synagogue  service. 

Some  half  a dozen  families  of  German  Jews  belong 
to  Worcester,  but  have  their  religious  affiliations  with 
Boston. 


Marginalia 


Armenians. 

The  Armenian  nation  was  great  and  historical  cen- 
turies before  the  Christian  era.  As  early,  perhaps,  as 
any  Gentile  nation,  they  received  the  Christian  religion ; 
but  not  till  the  opening  of  the  fourth  century,  and  in 
the  year  302,  did  the  Armenian  Church  begin  to  be 
established.  To  St.  Gregory,  the  Illuminator,  belongs 
the  honor  of  being  its  founder,  and  hence  it  is  distinct- 
ively styled  the  Gregorian  Church.  Independent  alike 
of  the  Greek  and  the  Romish  Churches,  it  resembled 
them  in  holding  a hierarchy  and  the  seven  sacraments. 
This  ancient  church,  through  varying  fortunes,  has 
come  down  to  our  day  and  still  exists  in  its  native 
seat.  An  important  city  of  that  country  is  Harpoot  in 
the  great  loop  made  by  the  river  Euphrates ; and  there, 
early  in  the  century,  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners established  one  of  their  missions.  In  this 


WORCESTER 


158 

way  the  Armenians  came  to  have  relations  with  Ameri- 
cans and  to  have  knowledge  of  the  United  States. 
From  Harpoot  and  vicinity  many  of  them  found  their 
way  to  Worcester.  The  special  attraction  for  them  in 
this  city  was  the  great  Washburn  & Moen  wire  estab- 
lishment. They  began  to  be  employed  in  that  establish- 
ment in  the  year  1882,  and  in  1888  there  were  about 
two  hundred  and  thirty-six  on  its  pay-roll.  This 
particular  set  towards  Worcester  was  the  means  of 
drawing  others  who  came  and  engaged  in  other  employ- 
ments. The  whole  number  in  the  city  was  last  reported 
at  about  five  hundred.  This  is  said  to  be  a larger 
number  of  Armenians  than  what  is  to  be  found  in  any 
other  place  in  the  United  States. 

It  was  an  obvious  duty  to  provide  for  these  Asiatic 
strangers  edifying  religious  instruction.  Accordingly, 
about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1888,  the  Rev.  H.  A. 
Andreasian  was  invited  to  come  from  Harpoot  and 
minister  to  them  in  their  own  tongue.  Mr.  Andreasian 
was  a disciple  of  the  American  missionaries,  and  had 
become  an  evangelical  Protestant  as  towards  the 
Gregorian  Church.  He  had  been  an  ordained  minister 
and  preacher  at  Harpoot  for  twenty-one  years.  On 
receiving  the  call  from  Worcester  he  was  given  leave 
of  absence  from  his  charge  in  Harpoot  for  from  one 
to  three  years.  A place  for  worship  was  secured  in 
Summer  Street  Chapel,  and  there  every  Sabbath  a 
large  portion  of  the  Armenians  resident  in  Worcester 
diligently  attended  upon  his  ministry.  There  is  yet 
no  organized  church,  and  the  congregation  embraces 
Greerorian  as  well  as  Protestant  Armenians.  The 

o 

communion  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  is  observed  four 
times  a year,  and  to  it  are  invited  “ all  who  love  the 


CHURCHES 


159 


Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  The  version  of  the  Bible  in  use 
is  that  published  by  the  American  Bible  Society  in  the 
Armenian  language.  The  singing  is  congregational, 
conducted  by  Mr.  M.  S.  T.  Nahigian,  who  came  to 
Worcester  almost  before  any  other  Armenian.  A 
serious  drawback  upon  the  future  of  the  Armenians  in 
Worcester  is  the  almost  entire  absence  of  Armenian 
women,  caused  by  the  refusal  of  the  Turkish  Govern- 
ment to  allow  them  to  emigrate.  The  entire  congrega- 
tion on  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  year  1888  consisted  of 
men,  and  mostly  of  young  men.  Mr.  Andreasian 
regarded  this  as  such  a serious  matter  that  he  was 
determined  to  discourage  the  Armenian  immigration 
unless  the  women  came  also.  About  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  a year  have  been  raised  among  themselves  for 
church  and  burial  purposes  here  and  contributions  to 
their  poor  at  home.  They  have  manifested  their  grati- 
tude and  a fine  sense  of  the  fitness  of  things  by  also 
making  a voluntary  contribution  of  two  hundred  dollars 
to  the  funds  of  the  City  Hospital. 

Thus  matters  stood  until  early  in  1889,  when  a 
movement  was  begun  which  resulted  in  important 
changes.  This  movement  originated  with  Michael  H. 
Topanelian  a naturalized  Armenian  citizen  of  Worces- 
ter. Himself  an  uncompromising  son  of  the  “ Catholic 
and  Apostolic  Church  of  Armenia  ” (otherwise  called 
the  Gregorian),  he  viewed  with  hostility  the  efforts 
that  were  made  to  convert  his  countrymen  to  the  evan- 
gelical protestant  faith.  From  his  point  of  view  they 
were  as  sheep  without  a shepherd  and  he  aimed  to 
provide  them  one.  Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1889 
he  wrote  to  the  Armenian  Patriarch  in  Constantinople 

to  send  over  a priest.  In  response  to  this  request,  the 

21 


Marginalia 


i6o 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


Rev.  H.  V.  Sarajian  made  his  appearance  in  Worcester 
on  the  24th  of  July  next  following,  charged  with  the 
care,  not  only  of  his  countrymen  in  Worcester,  but  also 
of  all  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Sarajian  was  a native 
of  Constantinople,  had  his  education  preparatory  for 
the  priesthood  in  the  Armenian  Seminary  at  Jerusalem, 
and  was  ordained  as  a celibate  priest  in  a monastery 
near  Moosh  in  Armenia.  His  coming  to  Worcester 
was  the  signal  for  a separation  of  the  true  Gregorians 
from  those  otherwise  minded.  On  the  first  Sunday  in 
August  they  assembled  in  Grand  Army  Hall  and  there 
Mr.  Sarajian  began  for  them  his  ministry. 

Meantime,  Mr.  Andreasian  had  taken  a step  which 
had  already  divided  the  original  congregation.  He 
had  become  convinced  that  he  could  carry  on  his  work 
more  effectively  under  the  forms  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Accordingly,  in  the  early  summer  of  1888, 
he  had  retired  from  the  Summer  Street  Chapel  and 
opened  an  Episcopal  service  in  a hall  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association  Building.  At  the  same 
time  he  began  a course  of  study  at  the  Theological 
School  in  Cambridge  as  a preparation  for  taking  orders 
in  the  Episcopal  Church.  A very  considerable  number 
of  his  countrymen  followed  him  in  this  new  movement. 
The  secession  of  those  and  of  the  Gregorian  followers 
of  Mr.  Sarajian  reduced  the  Summer  street  body  to 
fifty  or  sixty.  This  remnant  was  cared  for  by  the  City 
Missionary  Society  which  employed  the  Rev.  Milan  H. 
Hitchcock  to  preach  to  them  every  Sunday.  Mr. 
Hitchcock,  who  was  acting  pastor  of  the  Church  of 
the  Covenant,  had  been  a missionary  among  the 
Armenians  in  Asia,  and  consequently  was  able  to 
preach  to  them  in  their  own  tongue. 


CHURCHES 


i6i 


Thus  the  close  of  the  year  1889  found  the  small 
body  of  Armenians  in  Worcester  separated  into  three 
distinct  religious  societies  each  having  its  own  pastor. 


Germans. 

In  1875  number  of  persons  in  Worcester  born  in 
Germany  was  four  hundred  and  three.  Thirteen  years 
later  the  number  of  this  nationality  was  estimated  at 
somewhat  more  than  one  thousand.  Of  these  a small 
portion  are  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  but  without 
any  separate  church  organization.  The  greater  part 
are  free  from  all  ecclesiastical  connection,  except  — as 
a leader  of  this  sort  put  the  case  — “ each  is  a little 
church  by  himself.”  Formerly,  and  from  time  to  time, 
the  Protestant  Germans  essayed  to  establish  a German 
church,  but  with  more  of  failure  than  of  success.  In 
1886  Charles  H.  Stephan,  a layman  of  German  birth, 
came  to  the  city  and  was  much  dissatisfied  at  finding 
such  religious  desolation  among  his  countrymen.  He 
at  once  bestirred  himself  to  do  what  he  might  to 
remedy  the  evil.  The  result  of  his  efforts  was  that,  on 
the  30th  of  November  1886,  a company  of  Protestant 
Germans  was  brought  together  for  religious  service  and 
worship.  This  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  on  Mulberry  street.  A mission  ser- 
vice continued  to  be  held  from  that  time  until  April  10, 
1888,  when  a church  was  organized  under  the  name 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Ten  persons 
became  members  by  signing  the  “ constitution,”  and 
Charles  H.  Stephan  and  Walter  Lester  were  elected 


i62 


WORCESTEI^ 


deacons.  The  “ unchanged  ” (invariatd)  Augsburg 
Confession  was  made  the  basis  of  the  organization. 
The  two  sacraments  are  Baptism  and  the  Lord’s 
Supper.  Baptism  is  uniformly  administered  to  infants 
a few  days  after  birth  by  a ternary  pouring  of  water 
from  the  hand  upon  the  infant’s  brow.  The  Lord’s 
Supper  is  administered  four  times  a year,  under  the 
imperative  rule  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  regard  to 
this  sacrament,  Luther’s  doctrine  of  consubstantiation 
is  strictly  held  by  this  Worcester  church ; the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ  are  received  under  and  with  the 
bread  and  wine,  but  not  in  the  bread  and  wine  tran- 
substantiated, as  the  Romish  Church  teaches.  The 
first  minister  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  F.  C.  Wurl 
of  Boston,  who  served  as  a missionary  under  appoint- 
ment by  the  German  Home  Mission,  at  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.  On  the  4th  of  August  1889,  Rev.  F.  C.  G. 
Schumm  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor.  Preach- 
ing is  held  in  the  hospitable  and  catholic  Summer 
Street  Chapel  every  Sunday,  where  also  a Sunday- 
school  is  as  constantly  maintained.  The  average 
attendance  upon  the  preaching  is  forty-five  and  thirty 
at  the  Sunday-school. 


City  Missions. 

The  Trinitarian  Congregationalists  had  for 
many  years  maintained  an  unincorporated  City  Mis- 
sionary Society.  But  under  the  efficient  and  stimulat- 
ing lead  of  the  Rev.  Henry  A.  Stimson,  D.D.,  with  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  others,  both  clergy  and  laity,  a 


CHURCHES 


163 


corporation  was  legally  organized  and  established, 
December  10,  1883,  under  the  name  of  the  Worcester 
City  Missionary  Society.  The  object  of  the  society 
was  “to  promote  religion  and  morality  in  the  city  of 
Worcester  aud  vicinity  by  the  employment  of  mission- 
aries ; the  establishment  and  support  of  churches, 
Sunday-schools,  mission  stations  and  chapels  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ ; for  the  diffu- 
sion of  Evangelical  knowledge  and  for  the  fostering  of 
such  works  of  benevolence  as  are  especially  adapted  to 
commend  religion  to  those  who  undervalue  or  are 
ignorant  of  it.”  This  step  rapidly  led  to  a great 
enlargement  of  Christian  activity  and  giving  in  the 
direction  of  city  missions.  Before  the  incorporation, 
the  sum  of  $500  was  about  the  limit  of  the  fund  annu- 
ally raised  for  the  uses  of  the  society.  After  the 
incorporation,  as  the  several  annual  reports  show,  the 
amount  raised  was,  in  the  first  year,  $2778.23  ; in  the 
second  year,  $3670.69  ; in  the  third  year,  $3764.81  ; in 
the  fourth  year,  $3886.53 ; and  in  the  fifth  year, 
$4006.71.  With  these  means  in  hand  a superintendent 
and  assistants  were  employed,  the  city  was  canvassed, 
missions  were  established  and  preaching  in  them  was 
maintained.  Out  of  all  this  three  organized  churches 
have  grown  up,  one  of  which  speedily  took  matters 
into  its  own  hands,  became  strong  and  erected  one  of 
the  finest  churches  in  the  city.  Another,  the  tripartite 
Church  of  the  Covenant  was,  in  1889,  resolved  into 
three  separate  ecclesiastical  organizations,  an  account 
of  which  has  already  been  given.  The  one  at  South 
Worcester  ultimately  adopted  the  name  of  Hope  Con- 
gregational Church. 

The  Rev.  Albert  Bryant  had  been  the  efficient 


Marginalia- 


164 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


superintendent  from  the  beginning ; but  on  the  6th  of 
May  1889,  he  tendered  his  resignation  to  take  effect  on 
the  ist  of  June  following.  Then  Rev.  William  T.  Sleeper 
became  superintendent,  at  the  same  time  retaining  his 
pastoral  relation  to  the  Summer  Street  Church.  At 
the  close  of  the  year  1889  the  society  owned  three 
Chapels  valued  at  $15,000. 

In  1881  the  pastors  and  some  members  of  five  of 
the  Congregational  Churches  united  in  an  effort  to 
establish  a church  home  of  that  way  for  the  French 
population.  Money  was  subscribed,  a place  of  worship 
was  provided,  a minister.  Rev.  Mr.  Syvret,  employed 
and  a church  organized.  Things  went  on  in  this  way 
till  the  summer  of  1883,  when,  because  of  Mr.  Syvret’s 
defection  from  the  faith  and  the  adherence  of  his 
congregation  to  him  notwithstanding  his  defection,  the 
enterprise  came  to  an  untimely  end.  In  1889,  ^ 
movement,  independent  of  the  first,  was  begun.  In 
August  of  that  year  Rev.  Napoleon  Gregoire  came 
and  began  work.  He  was  a French  Canadian  by 
birth,  at  first  a Roman  Catholic  priest,  afterwards  for 
some  years  pastor  of  a Baptist  Church  in  Canada,  and 
now  preferred  to  affiliate  himself  with  the  Congrega- 
tionalists.  He  came  as  a missionary  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Home  Missionary  Society  upon  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Rev.  Mr.  Cote,  missionary-general  among  the 
French.  In  September  the  “ inauguration  of  the 
French  Congregational  work  in  Worcester  ” went  on 
through  four  days  continuously,  assisted  by  nine  French 
ministers,  each  of  whom  made  an  address  upon  a topic 
duly  announced.  For  awhile  meetings  were  held  in 
the  building  of  the  Christian  Association  ; but  at  the 
close  of  the  year  it  was  expected  that  the  chapel  of  the 


CHURCHES 


165 

Union  Church  would  be  placed  at  their  service.  By 
this  time  Mr.  Gregoire  had  found  some  fifteen  families 
embracing  forty-five  or  fifty  souls  that  might  be 
considered  French  Congregationalists. 

Baptist  Missions. — In  the  autumn  of  1881,  the 
Baptist  Churches  took  measures  for  the  united  prose- 
cution of  city  mission  work.  On  the  25th  of  March 
1885,  this  enterprise  took  body  and  form  by  becoming 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Worcester  Baptist 
City  Mission  Board.  The  object  of  the  association,  as 
declared  in  the  Articles  of  agreement,  was  “ to  promote 
religion  and  morality  in  the  city  of  Worcester  and 
vicinity,  the  establishment  and  support  of  churches, 
Sunday-schools,  mission  stations  and  chapels  under  the 
general  management  of  Baptists,  the  employment  of 
missionaries  to  labor  in  said  city  and  vicinity  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  above-named  objects  and  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  of  evangelical  religion.” 
The  policy  adopted  was  to  have  all  the  Baptist 
Churches  represented  in  the  Board  and  all  contribute 
according  to  ability.  Moreover,  it  was  held  to  be  good 
policy  for  each  church  to  have  special  charge  of  some 
one  mission,  and,  if  able,  to  bear  all  its  expenses.  The 
French  Mission  was  reserved  from  this  arrangement 
and  kept  under  the  control  of  the  Board.  This  mission 
was  organized  in  1881,  and  was  placed  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  Gideon  Aubin  in  1886.  Its  support,  in 
part,  is  furnished  by  the  Home  Baptist  Mission  of  New 
York  City.  Other  missions  under  the  charge  of  this 
Board  are,  one  at  Quinsigamond  and  one  on  Canter- 
bury street,  both  of  which  were  organized  in  1885.  ^ 

mission  at  Adams  Square,  which  was  begun  in  1886, 


i66 


WORCESTER 


Marginalia 


was  organized  as  the  Adams  Square  Baptist  Church 
in  1889.  The  amount  of  property  held  by  the  Board 
and  invested  principally  in  three  chapels  is  somewhat' 
less  than  $10,000. 

In  the  spring  of  1888,  a mission  of  the  JVew  Jerusa- 
lem Church,  or  Swedenborgians,  was  begun  in  Worces- 
ter. Such  a mission  had  been  established  in  1874,  had 
been  continued  for  nearly  four  years  and  had  then 
come  to  an  end.  The  numbers  embraced  in  the  new 
mission  did  not  exceed  a score  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1888,  and  were  all  women.  These  provided  a place  of 
assembly,  which  was  in  Walker  Building,  and  there  on 
stated  Sundays  the  Rev.  Willard  H.  Hinkley,  of  Brook- 
line, Mass.,  a secretary  of  the  General  Convention, 
ministered  to  them  as  a missionary  of  the  New  Church. 
There  was  no  church  organization,  the  members  belong- 
ing to  different  churches  in  Boston  and  elsewhere.  It 
appears  from  the  New  Church  “Almanac”  for  1889 
that  the  number  of  societies  in  America  then  in 
“ organized  existence  ” was  141  ; the  estimated  num- 
ber of  “New  Churchmen,”  10,178;  the  number  of 
churches  and  chapels,  82  ; and  the  total  number  of 
clergy  in  active  service  and  otherwise,  113.  Sweden- 
borg died  in  1772.  His  doctrines  were  first  introduced 
into  America  in  1784;  and  the  first  New  Jerusalem 
Church  in  the  United  States  was  organized  in  1792,  in 
Baltimore.  The  first  society  in  Massachusetts  was 
instituted  in  Boston  on  the  15th  of  August  1818  ; the 
whole  number  in  the  State  in  1888  was  nineteen. 

Besides  the  foregoing,  there  are  various  other  mis- 
sions, denominational  and  undenominational,  that  are 
independent  and  self-supporting. 


CHURCHES 


167 


In  1889,  the  total  valuation,  by  the  city  assessors,  of 
exempted  church  property  was  $2,069,900.  This 
amount  was  distributed  among  the  several  denom- 
inations as  follows:  Trinitarian  Congregationalists, 
$722,800;  Roman  Catholics,  $452.100 ; Baptists,  $209,- 
000;  Episcopalians,  $188,800;  Methodists,  $174,900  ; 
Unitarian  Congregationalists,  $98,400 ; Universalists, 
$68,600;  Swedish  Churches,  $38,100;  Disciples  of 
Christ,  $27,600  ; and  the  balance  among  the  smaller 
organizations. 

Our  historical  review  shows  that  while  the  largest 
growth  has  been  in  the  line  of  the  oldest  church,  the 
city  has  also  been  greatly  hospitable  towards  other 
creeds  of  later  advent  within  its  bounds. 


Marginalia 


In  the  preparation  of  this  sketch-history  of  the 
Worcester  Churches,  the  following  is  a partial  list  of 
the  authorities  and  sources  of  information  which  have 
been  consulted  : 

Lincoln’s  “ History  of  Worcester ; ” Lincoln’s  “ His- 
torical Notes  ” (in  manuscript)  ; Smalley’s  “ Worcester 
Pulpit ; ” Bancroft’s  “ Sermons  ; ” Austin’s  “ Sermon 
on  the  War  of  1812;”  Pamphlets  on  the  Good- 
rich and  Waldo  Controversy,  1820,  et  seq.;  Fitton’s 
“ Sketches  of  the  Established  Church  in  New  Eng- 
land ; ” Hoffman’s  “ Catholic  Directory ; ” Hill’s 
“ Historical  Discourse  ; ” “ Journal  of  Convention  of 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ; ” Dorchester’s  “ Early 
Methodism  in  Worcester  ” (in  manuscript) ; Roe’s 
“ Beginnings  of  Methodism  in  Worcester  ” (in  manu- 
script) ; Green’s  “ Gleanings  from  the  History  of  the 

22 


ATarginalia 


i68  WORCESTER  CHURCHES 

Second  Parish  in  Worcester ; ” Davis’  “ Historical 
Discourse  on  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  ; ” Wayland’s  “ Sermon  on  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Anniversary  of  his  Ordination  as  Pastor  of  Main 
Street  Baptist  Church  ; ” Barton’s  “ Epitaphs  ; ” Drake’s 
“American  Biography;”  “Liturgy  of  New  Jerusalem 
Church  ; ” “ New  Church  Almanac  ; ” printed  manuals 
of  the  various  churches  and  societies ; manuscript 
records  of  the  same,  including  records  of  First  Parish 
at  City  Hall,  and  of  the  church  therewith  connected 
(Old  South)  in  the  last  century,  in  the  handwriting  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Maccarty;  Massachusetts  Spy  newspaper; 
ancient  copies  of  Psalm-books ; “ Twenty-fifth  Anni- 
versary Exercises  of  First  Universalist  Society;”  “Our 
Position  ” of  Disciples  of  Christ ; Thayer’s  “ Christian 
Union.”  Much  information  has  also  been  obtained 
from  pastors  and  other  living  persons,  actors  in  and 
having  knowledge  of  what  took  place.  In  this  way 
knowledge  of  what  is  written  about  the  Swedish, 
Armenian,  German  and  Jewish  ecclesiastical  matters 
was  chiefly  obtained. 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX 


171 


The  oldest  extant^  Covenant  of  the  First  Church  in  Worcester  is 
printed  on  the  next  page.  It  was  adopted  on  Monday  the  2 2d  of 
September  1746,  and  afterwards  subscribed  by  fifty  male  members.  At 
the  time  of  its  adoption  the  church  had  no  minister  and  no  Covenant, 
and  at  their  request  the  one  here  given  was  “ draughted  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
[John]  Campbell  of  Oxford  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  of  Southborough ; ” 
so  it  stands  on  the  record  in  the  hand-writing  of  Mr.  Maccarty.  Mr. 
Stone  had  been  invited  to  assist,  but  the  certificate  of  record  touching 
the  adoption  of  the  Covenant  is  signed  by  Rev.  John  Prentice  of  Lan- 
caster and  Rev.  John  Campbell,  Mr.  Stone’s  name  not  appearing. 

The  Covenant  of  the  Second  Church  in  Worcester,  otherwise  the 
First  Unitarian  Church,  is  here  printed  as  it  came  from  the  hand  of  Dr. 
Bancroft  and  as  it  stands  today  on  the  ancient  records  of  the  church. 
It  was  adopted  at  a Lecture  held  in  the  Court  House  on  the  ist  day  of 
December  1785,  and  was  then  “publicly  subscribed”  by  eight  men  and 
eleven  women.  It  has  never  been  changed  nor  superseded  nor  abro- 
gated ; but  now  is  monumental  only. 

The  text  of  these  ancient  Symbols  as  here  printed  has  been  diligently 
compared  with  the  text  written  in  the  church  records  by  contemporary 
hands. 


1 There  was  an  older  Covenant,  but  it  had  been  carried  away,  together  with  the 
church  records,  by  Mr.  Burr  after  his  dismission.  On  the  5th  of  April  1745,  the 
church  sent  a committee  to  reclaim  both  from  their  “ late  pastor,”  but  neither  was 
returned.  In  the  margin  of  the  old  record-book  opposite  the  vote  for  reclamation  is 
written,  “The  Church  Records  Refused;”  while  under  date  of  August  23,  1746,  a 
year  and  four  months  later,  it  is  recorded  that  the  church  was  then  “ destitute  of  a 
Covenant.”  These  facts  were  not  discovered  by  me  until  after  the  text  on  page  12  was 
in  print.  The  discovery  has  two  important  bearings : First,  it  furnishes  record 
evidence  of  an  earlier  Covenant ; and  Second,  it  raises  a strong  presumption  that  the 
records  which  Mr.  Burr  kept  and  which  have  ever  since  been  missing,  were  those 
covering  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  the  church’s  existence. 


172 


APPENDIX 


A 

®l)e  ^.ncicnt  tioocnant 

Of  the  First  Church  in  Worcester. 

1746. 


We,  whofe  Names  are  hereunto  fubfcribed,  being  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Worcester,  in  New  England,  knowing 
that  we  are  very  prone  to  offend  & provoke  God,  most  high, 
both  in  Heart  and  Life,  thro’  the  prevalency  of  Sin  that 
dwelleth  in  Us,  and  the  manifold  Temptations  from  without 
us ; for  which  we  have  great  reafon  to  be  unfeignedly 
humble  before  Him,  from  day  to  day,  do,  in  the  Name  of 
our  Lord  & Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  with  Dependence  upon 
the  gracious  Affistance  of  his  holy  Spirit,  folemnly  enter  into 
a Covenant  with  God,  & with  one  another,  according  to  his 
holy  Direction,  as  follows  : 

First, — That  having  chofen  & taken  the  Lord  Jehovah, 
Father,  Son,  8c  holy  Spirit,  to  be  Our  God,  we  will  fear 
Him,  cleave  to  Him  in  Love,  & ferve  Him  in  Truth,  w^^ 
all  o^  Hearts,  giving  up  OTelves  to  Him  to  be  his  people, 
in  all  Things  to  be  at  his  Direction  & Sovereign  Disposal, 
that  we  may  have  & hold  Communion  with  Him,  as  Mem- 
bers of  Chrift’s  myftical  Body,  according  to  his  revealed 
Will,  to  Our  Lives’  End. 

Secondly, — We  bind  Our  Selves  to  bring  up  Our  Child- 
ren & Servants  in  the  knowledge  and  fear  of  God,  by  his 
Inftrudtions,  according  to  our  best  abilities  ; and,  in  special, 
by  Orthodox  Catechifms,  vizb  : the  Affembly  at  Westmin- 
ster’s larger  and  fhorter  Catechisms,  that  the  true  religion 
may  be  maintained  in  Our  Families  while  we  live  ; yea,  & 
among  such  as  fhall  furvive  us,  when  we  are  dead  & gone. 

Thirdly, — We  furthermore  promife  to  keep  close  to  the 
Truth  of  Christ,  endeavoring  with  lively  affedlions  of  it  in 


AFFENDIX 


173 


Our  Hearts,  to  defend  it  against  all  Opposers  thereof,  as 
God  fhall  call  us  at  any  time  thereunto  ; which,  that  we 
may  do,  we  resolve  to  use  the  holy  Scriptures  as  Our  Direc- 
tory, whereby  we  may  difcern  the  mind  & will  of  Chrift, 
and  not  the  new-found  Inventions  of  Men. 

Fourthly. — We  also  engage  Ou^’felves,  to  have  a careful 
Inspection  over  Our  own  Hearts,  fo  as  to  endeavor,  by  Virtue 
of  the  Death  of  Christ,  the  Mortification  of  our  finful 
passions,  worldly  Frames,  diforderly  afifedlions,  whereby  we 
may  be  withdrawn  from  the  living  God. 

Fifthly. — We  furthermore  oblige  Oifi  Selves  in  the  faith- 
ful Improvement  of  all  Our  Abilities  & Opportunities,  to 
worfiiip  God,  according  to  the  particular  Inftitutions  of 
Chrift  for  his  Church,  under  Gospel  Administrations ; as  to 
give  reverend  attention  to  the  Word  of  God  ; to  pray  unto 
Him;  to  fing  his  Praise  ; & to  hold  Communion  one  with 
another,  in  the  ufe  of  both  the  Sacraments  of  the  new 
Testament,  vizh  : Baptism  8i  the  Lord's  Supper. 

Sixthly. — We  likewife  promife,  that  we  will  peaceably 
fubmit  Ou^  Selves  unto  the  holy  Discipline  appointed  by 
Chrift  in  his  Church,  for  Offenders,  obeying,  according  to 
the  Will  of  God,  Them  that  rule  over  us  in  the  Lord. 

Seventhly. — We  alfo  bind  Ou’'  Selves  to  walk  in  Love  One 
towards  Another,  endeavoring  our  mutual  Edification,  vifit- 
ing,  exhorting,  comforting  as  Occafion  ferveth,  any  Brother 
or  Sister  which  offends ; not  divulging  private  Offences 
irregularly,  but  heedfully  following  the  leveral  Precepts 
laid  down  by  Christ  for  Church  Discipline,  in  the  xviii  of 
Matthew,  15:  16:  17:  willingly  forgiving  all  that  manifeft 
unto  y®  judgment  of  Charity,  that  Ihey  truly  repent  of  all 
their  Mifcarriages. 

Now,  the  God  of  Peace,  which  bro’t  again  from  the  Dead 
O^’  Lord  & Sav^  Jefus  Chrift,  the  great  Shepherd  of  the 
Sheep,  thro’  the  Blood  of  the  everlasting  Covenant,  make 
us  all  perfect  in  every  good  Word  and  Work,  to  do  his 
Will,  w’orking  in  us  that  which  is  well  pleafing  in  his  Sight, 
thro’  Jefus  Chrift,  to  whom  be  Glory  forever  and  ever. 

Amen. 


174 


APPENDIX 


B 


®l)c  indent  Coucnant 

Of  the  Second  (First  Unitarian)  Church  in  Worcester. 

1785- 


In  the  first  place,  we  humbly  renew  the  dedication  of 
ourselves  and  offspring  to  the  great  God,  who  is  over  all, 
blessed  forevermore. 

And  we  do  hereby  profess  our  firm  belief  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  contained  in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  And 
taking  them  as  our  sole  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  we  do  covenant  to  and  with  each  other,  that  we 
will  walk  together  as  a Christian  Society,  in  the  faith  and  | 
order  of  the  Gospel.  And  we  do  hereby  engage,  as  far  as 
in  our  power,  for  all  under  our  care,  that  we  will  live  as 
true  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  all  good  carriage  and 
behavior  both  towards  God  and  towards  man.  Professing 
ourselves  to  be  in  charity  with  all  men  who  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth.  All  this  we  engage 
faithfully  to  perform,  by  divine  assistance,  for  which  we  are 
encouraged  to  hope,  relying  on  the  mediation  of  Jesus 
Christ  for  the  pardon  of  our  manifold  sins,  and  praying  the 
God  of  all  grace,  through  him,  to  strengthen  and  enable  us 
to  keep  this,  our  Covenant,  inviolate,  and  to  establish  and: 
settle  us,  that  at  the  second  coming  of  Jesus,  we  may  appear 
before  his  presence  with  exceeding  joy. 


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DATE  DUE 


UNIVERSITY  PRODUCTS,  INC.  #859-5503 


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